Fate Of The Jedi_ Abyss Part 26

"In this situation, yeah," Han said. "When Daala sees us making a straight-up speed break, she'll think we decided there's no use trying to trick her. And then do you know what she'll do?"

"Send everything she has to catch us?"

Han nodded. "That's right," he said. "And that's that's when your grandmother will slip away in the when your grandmother will slip away in the Gizer Gut." Gizer Gut."

"After I Force-touch her again." Allana frowned, then added, "There's only one thing wrong with your plan, Grandpa." I Force-touch her again." Allana frowned, then added, "There's only one thing wrong with your plan, Grandpa."

Han gave her a patient smile. "And what's that, sweetheart?"

"You're trying to flatter Chief Daala," Allana said. "And Mom says a smart smart woman woman never never believes it when someone flatters her." believes it when someone flatters her."

Han felt his smile melt away. "Well, this this isn't really flattery," he said, putting more confidence into his voice than he felt. "It's more like just not treating her like she's dumb." isn't really flattery," he said, putting more confidence into his voice than he felt. "It's more like just not treating her like she's dumb."

Allana's brows dropped into a V. "You're bluffing."

"What? No way." Han looked forward again, then sighed. "Okay, what's my tell?"

"Your voice rose," Allana said proudly. "Plus, well, I have the Force."

Han rolled his eyes. "That blasted Force-it's been getting me in trouble with women since I met your grandmother," he said. "Anyway, don't worry. I'm ninety percent sure this is going to work."

"And when you're flying with Captain Solo, those are very good odds indeed," C-3PO offered from the communications station. "Even adjusting for his usual exaggeration, that gives us a sixty-seven percent chance of success."

Before Han could turn to bark at the droid, Allana said, "Oh, I'm not worried, Grandpa-as long as we have a backup plan."

Han thought he might have been developing some Force sensitivity himself, because even though he was still looking out at the stars popping into view as they departed the atmosphere, he could feel her staring at him.

"We do do have a backup plan," Allana said. "Right?" have a backup plan," Allana said. "Right?"

He switched to the ion drives, then, as the Falcon Falcon kicked over to the more powerful engines, pulled the throttles back and said, "Sure we do." kicked over to the more powerful engines, pulled the throttles back and said, "Sure we do."

"Good." Allana was silent for a moment, then asked, "What is it?" Han shrugged. "Hard to say. Your grandmother is in charge of backup plans."

Before Allana could press the matter further, the no-nonsense voice of an orbital control officer sounded over the flight deck speaker. "Light freighter Longshot Longshot, you've just broken every procedure in the manual for departing Coruscant. Please proceed to impound station Trill Aurek Papa for inspection."

"Oh my-those orders are certainly going to interfere with our duties," C-3PO said. "Perhaps if I apologize-" orders are certainly going to interfere with our duties," C-3PO said. "Perhaps if I apologize-"

"Don't even think about it, Codejob." Han smiled and winked at Allana, then added, "This game is just getting started."

He activated the tactical display and winced-as he always did-at the dense field of yellow FIXED FACILITY FIXED FACILITY designators that immediately popped into view. There were so many stations, platforms, and habitats floating around Coruscant's satellite sh.e.l.l that piloting a stars.h.i.+p through the orbital layers was only slightly less nerve-racking than navigating a speeder across the Big Snarl at the height of Crash Hour. designators that immediately popped into view. There were so many stations, platforms, and habitats floating around Coruscant's satellite sh.e.l.l that piloting a stars.h.i.+p through the orbital layers was only slightly less nerve-racking than navigating a speeder across the Big Snarl at the height of Crash Hour.

An instant later vessel transponder codes began to appear between the facility designators, all in "friendly blue" since the Falcon Falcon was not involved in an armed conflict with anyone. Without a control s.h.i.+p to coordinate and pa.s.s along a constant stream of situation reports, R2-D2 could only access the data from the was not involved in an armed conflict with anyone. Without a control s.h.i.+p to coordinate and pa.s.s along a constant stream of situation reports, R2-D2 could only access the data from the Falcon Falcon's own sensor arrays, which made the tactical picture necessarily incomplete. But the display already showed dozens of civilian codes scrambling to clear the area, and Han spotted a new Nargi-cla.s.s Nargi-cla.s.s pursuit frigate moving to cut off the pursuit frigate moving to cut off the Falcon Falcon's escape route.

A new voice, this one sharper and more insistent, came over the comm speakers. "Light freighter Longshot Longshot, this is the Galactic Alliance pursuit frigate Fast Death Fast Death. Respond immediately, or we will will take measures to ensure that you do." take measures to ensure that you do."

Han ignored the challenge and continued to climb. A ma.s.sive KDY orbital defense platform flashed past to port as the Falcon Falcon entered the planet's satellite sh.e.l.l. Han studied the display until he found a huge wheel station orbiting nearby, then swung onto a course that put the facility between him and the entered the planet's satellite sh.e.l.l. Han studied the display until he found a huge wheel station orbiting nearby, then swung onto a course that put the facility between him and the Fast Death Fast Death.

The voice returned. "Longshot "Longshot, your evasive action has been noted. We are now declaring you a suspect vessel in flight suspect vessel in flight. If you continue on this course, we will will apprehend you forcibly." apprehend you forcibly."

"Then stop talking about it and do do something," Han groused. something," Han groused.

The Fast Death Fast Death vanished from the display as the huge wheel station drifted into a direct line between the vanished from the display as the huge wheel station drifted into a direct line between the Falcon Falcon and the frigate. Han queried the designator code. To his delight, the station was listed as PharmCom Orbital Processing Plant One. Pharmaceutical production facilities were usually several kilometers across, more than large enough for his purposes. All he had to do was hide behind the station until the and the frigate. Han queried the designator code. To his delight, the station was listed as PharmCom Orbital Processing Plant One. Pharmaceutical production facilities were usually several kilometers across, more than large enough for his purposes. All he had to do was hide behind the station until the Fast Death Fast Death came around one side looking for him, then he'd blow ions out the other. came around one side looking for him, then he'd blow ions out the other.

Unfortunately, the Fast Deaths Fast Deaths skipper had a better idea. As the processing plant began to swell in the skipper had a better idea. As the processing plant began to swell in the Falcon Falcon's forward canopy-a huge durasteel web of white rings held together by dozens of glittering yellow spokes-R2-D2 let out a series of contact tweedles. Han turned his attention back to the tactical display. Swarming past the station's rim were a dozen XJ5 Chas.e.x starfighters. And they were probably all equipped with the latest in s.h.i.+p-disabling System Burner ion torpedoes.

"Blast and double blast!" Han growled. "He's not falling for it."

"Uh-oh," Allana said. "Does that mean I should ask Grandma for the backup plan?"

Han shook his head. "Not yet, sweetie. We still have a few tricks up our sleeves."

Han rolled the Falcon Falcon into a wingover, and suddenly it was not the wheel station swelling in front of them, but the hazy yellow disk of Coruscant's day side. into a wingover, and suddenly it was not the wheel station swelling in front of them, but the hazy yellow disk of Coruscant's day side.

"That's trick number one," Han said. "Now, why don't you pick out a new transponder name for us?"

"Any name I want?"

"As long as it's on the list," Han said.

"Affirmative, Grandpa." Allana began to scroll through the possibilities, her little boots kicking the air in excitement, then she announced, "Got it!"

"Go ahead and send it to Artoo," Han said, swinging toward the gleaming canister of a luxury habitat complex. "And tell him to switch over in three, two ..."

The habitat's apparent size swelled up so quickly that even Han thought he might crash into it. The facility's automated s.h.i.+elding system began to broadcast an emergency message, warning him to decelerate or change course. He did neither. When they were close enough to see startled faces staring out the viewports, he pushed the yoke down and dived underneath the habitat.

An instant later Han pulled back up on the other side of the station and finished the count, "... one."

R2-D2 gave an acknowledging tweedle. By then, the planet itself was coming up so fast that Han had no time to check the display to see the Falcon's Falcon's new name. He rolled the upper hull toward the Chas.e.xs and began to flee toward the far side of the planet. new name. He rolled the upper hull toward the Chas.e.xs and began to flee toward the far side of the planet.

When Han did check the tactical display, his heart fell. The Chas.e.xs were still hot on his tail, and closing quick. But the Fast Death Fast Death remained on station, hanging back with no apparent concern about keeping the remained on station, hanging back with no apparent concern about keeping the Falcon Falcon in tractor beam range. in tractor beam range.

"Bloah!" He slammed a palm against the yoke. "They've got another one."

"Another what?" Allana's voice was small and frightened.

Han immediately regretted his outburst, and explained in a gentler voice, "Another frigate, kiddo. That's why the Fast Death Fast Death isn't following us." isn't following us."

"Now is it time to ask Grandma about the backup plan?" is it time to ask Grandma about the backup plan?"

Han had to bite back an irritated reply. "Not yet, sweetie. Grandpa just needs to raise the stakes, that's all."

Allana's eyes grew curious, but before she could ask Han to explain, a scratchy new voice came over the c.o.c.kpit speaker. "You're not fooling anyone, Star Princess Star Princess. We know who you are."

Han grimaced and glanced over at Allana. "You picked Star Princess?" Star Princess?"

"You said to pick any name I wanted," she reminded him. "And Star Princess Star Princess is pretty." is pretty."

"I think it's a very wise choice, Mistress Allana," C-3PO said. "Statistical a.n.a.lysis shows that the planetary patrols are thirty-four percent less likely to open fire on vessels with endearing names."

Allana shot Han a triumphant smile, but before she could gloat, the scratchy voice began to threaten them from the comm speaker again.

"This is your last warning, Star Princess ... Star Princess ... or whatever you want to call yourself-Captain Solo." or whatever you want to call yourself-Captain Solo."

R2-D2 gave a warning whistle, and the Falcon Falcon's lock alarms suddenly shrieked to life.

"Heave to," the voice ordered, "or that tub won't have a working circuit left."

"The savage!" C-3PO gasped. "I don't think we have any choice, Captain Solo. If you don't do as he orders, Artoo and I will be-"

"Not happening in this this lifetime, Threepio." Han glanced over at Allana. "Do you think you can still find Saba in the Force, or should I have Wilyem-" lifetime, Threepio." Han glanced over at Allana. "Do you think you can still find Saba in the Force, or should I have Wilyem-"

"I'm the copilot!" Allana informed him. "I can find her."

"Then do it." Han turned his attention back to the tactical display. The second frigate had shown up dead ahead-and the Chas.e.xs were driving them right toward it. "And tell Saba sooner is better."

Allana frowned. "I can't tell tell her anything, Grandpa. The Force isn't a comlink." She closed her eyes and began to concentrate. "After living with Grandma so long, you really should know that by now." her anything, Grandpa. The Force isn't a comlink." She closed her eyes and began to concentrate. "After living with Grandma so long, you really should know that by now."

Han smiled. "You'd think." He activated his intercom microphone, then said, "Dordi, Zal, time to bluff. Bring up your guns and targeting computers."

"Can we shoot?" Zal asked-or maybe it was Dordi-Han couldn't tell.

"No, you can't shoot!" Han snapped. "What are you, crazy? I've got Amelia on board!"

"So she she getz to do all the shooting?" Dordi-or maybe it was Zal-asked. getz to do all the shooting?" Dordi-or maybe it was Zal-asked.

"n.o.body gets to shoot," Han retorted. "Well, except Wilyem. But not until I say so ...and you gets to shoot," Han retorted. "Well, except Wilyem. But not until I say so ...and you can't can't hit anything. Clear?" hit anything. Clear?"

"Of course I can hit something," Wilyem rasped back. "I'm a Jedi." Jedi." A chorus of sissing broke over the intercom speaker. A chorus of sissing broke over the intercom speaker.

Before Han could snap at the Barabels to get serious, the voice of a very irritated task force commander came over the flight deck speaker.

"Quick End command to the command to the Star Princess Star Princess-or whatever you're calling yourself at the moment. Have you lost your kriffing kriffing mind, Solo?" mind, Solo?"

Scowling at the foul language, Han looked over and motioned Allana to cover her ears.

"This isn't funny anymore, Captain," the commander continued. "My sensor officers tell me you're powering up your laser cannons. And we keep getting lock alarms. If I hear that your missile bays ..."

The commander's threat was drowned out by the startled cries of a dozen Chas.e.x pilots-a mixture of cursing and status declarations. "Lock, lock!" "Someone's on my six!"

"What the blazes?" cried a starfighter pilot. "We've got ...break, break, break! Stealths!"

In the instant of silence that followed, Han activated his intercom again. "When you're ready, Wilyem," he said calmly. "And don't- don't-"

"-hit anything. This one-"

The Barabel's rea.s.surance was cut off as the task force commander's furious voice came over the flight deck speakers again.

"Captain Solo, please tell me that those Jedi StealthXs did not not just target Bolt Squadron." just target Bolt Squadron."

Han checked the tactical display and saw that the StealthX gambit had done its job. The Fast Death Fast Death was finally moving off station, accelerating past the PharmCom wheel station to provide cover for its starfighter squadron. At last, the time had come to stop pus.h.i.+ng. Han opened his own comm channel. was finally moving off station, accelerating past the PharmCom wheel station to provide cover for its starfighter squadron. At last, the time had come to stop pus.h.i.+ng. Han opened his own comm channel.

"StealthXs?" He looked over at Allana and winked. Then he signaled her to reach for Leia in the Force by pinching his eyes shut and miming the ignition of a lightsaber. He looked over at Allana and winked. Then he signaled her to reach for Leia in the Force by pinching his eyes shut and miming the ignition of a lightsaber. "What "What StealthXs, Commander? The only starfighters around here are your-" StealthXs, Commander? The only starfighters around here are your-"

The flight deck lock alarms suddenly began to wail again. Then the Falcon Falcon bucked sharply as a much-weakened proton torpedo-the one Wilyem had just dumped out the aft loading bay-detonated a couple of kilometers off their stern. Holding the yoke with one hand and scratching his comm microphone with the other, Han immediately put the bucked sharply as a much-weakened proton torpedo-the one Wilyem had just dumped out the aft loading bay-detonated a couple of kilometers off their stern. Holding the yoke with one hand and scratching his comm microphone with the other, Han immediately put the Falcon Falcon on a corks.c.r.e.w.i.n.g course for the on a corks.c.r.e.w.i.n.g course for the Quick End Quick End. Trailing out of the modified escape pod bay in the Falcon's Falcon's aft, he knew, would be long tails of flame and atmosphere. To sensors and naked eyes alike, the trail would look like the aft, he knew, would be long tails of flame and atmosphere. To sensors and naked eyes alike, the trail would look like the Falcon Falcon had suffered a catastrophic hull breach. had suffered a catastrophic hull breach.

"Solo!" the commander bellowed. "What the blazes just happened?"

"You tell me!" me!" Han shot back. He opened the emergency channel, then continued, "One of your clowns just put a proton torpedo into our stern! This is the Han shot back. He opened the emergency channel, then continued, "One of your clowns just put a proton torpedo into our stern! This is the Millennium Falcon Millennium Falcon declaring out-of-control emergency!" declaring out-of-control emergency!"

Declaring a false emergency was, of course, just the sort of thing no good s.p.a.cecraft pilot ever did. At every rescue station on this side of the planet, crews would be scrambling and tractor s.h.i.+ps cold-firing their ion engines. But as far as Han was concerned, getting Bazel and the other barvy Jedi Knights safely off Coruscant was was an emergency-and Daala had left them no other choice. an emergency-and Daala had left them no other choice.

Even so, the task force commander clearly remained suspicious-even as the Falcon Falcon continued to corkscrew toward him. The double-nosed needle of the continued to corkscrew toward him. The double-nosed needle of the Quick End's Quick End's sleek blue hull was already the size of a finger in the forward canopy, and still the vessel showed no sign of moving. sleek blue hull was already the size of a finger in the forward canopy, and still the vessel showed no sign of moving.

Han looked over and found Allana's gray eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. Her mouth was hanging open and, though she was trying not to show her fear, he could tell by her pale cheeks that she thought they were probably going to crash.

And what if they did? Han would never be able to forgive himself. But his job now was to stay on course ...and help her learn. He closed the comm channel for a moment, then spoke to her in his best no-big-deal voice.

"That's a pretty tough guy, huh?"

Allana nodded. "Is he going to let us ram him?"

"I don't know," Han said. "What do you think?"

She thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Who can tell?"

"Yeah, we're going to have to find out who he is, aren't we?"

Allana studied the spinning shape outside the viewport for a moment longer, watching in silence as at it grew to the length of a Wookiee's arm, then finally tore her gaze away and looked over.

"We are?" are?" she asked. she asked.

"You bet," Han said, giving her a dip of the head that was more confident than he felt. "A guy like that, you don't want to bluff twice."

Han opened the emergency channel again, then began to scream into the microphone. "Quick End "Quick End, clear us a lane! We're out of control! I say again, clear, clear, clear!"

By now the frigate was as long as a Wookiee was tall, its ends vanis.h.i.+ng from sight each time they spun below the Falcon Falcon's control console. But the commander sounded as cool as a wampa when he replied.

"Solo, this smacks of a trick," he said. "If you think-"

"Trick?" Han yelled. "You think I'd pull something Han yelled. "You think I'd pull something this this crazy with Amelia on board?" crazy with Amelia on board?"

"Your daughter's daughter's on board?" The commander paused for a moment. Like most of the galaxy, he had no idea of Allana's true ident.i.ty, believing Allana to be on board?" The commander paused for a moment. Like most of the galaxy, he had no idea of Allana's true ident.i.ty, believing Allana to be Amelia Amelia, the Solos' adopted daughter. "Surely, you don't expect me to-"

Allana opened her mouth and, taking a cue as well as her grandmother, let out a bloodcurdling scream. "Daddy! "Daddy! We're doomed!" We're doomed!"

"I'm glad you you said it, Mistress Amelia!" C-3PO added. "Captain Solo always trips my-" said it, Mistress Amelia!" C-3PO added. "Captain Solo always trips my-"

"Oh, blast!" the commander cursed, speaking over C-3PO. "Hold on, we're moving."