Read Star Wars - Han Solo and the Lost Legacy for Free Online

“First Mate Solo, what should we talk to the captain about?”
    “Anything. He just likes to listen to people talk.” Han gunned the engine and expertly pulled the powerful coach out of its parking slip. “Tell him how he’s ruining a great afternoon,” Han encouraged her, then smiled. “Or sing some off-color ditties, if you know any.”
    Kiili eyed the contented Wookiee uncertainly. “
He
likes
those
?”
    Han smiled engagingly. “No. I do.”

IV
    REMEMBERING that Hasti, the young woman with Badure, had mentioned the district hostelry, Han zoomed off in that direction. The scarlet monstrosity of a coach, riding its low ground-effect cushion, handled smoothly and responded well for its size.
    One long arm along the back of the driver’s seat, Chewbacca tilted his admiral’s cap down and listened while Kiili and Viurre described the life of an undergraduate student of nonhuman ethnography.
    They didn’t have to enter the hostelry. Badure and Hasti were waiting at an intercampus shuttleskimmer stop near the building. Han pulled over to the curb with a belch of braking thrust, and he and Chewbacca jumped out, followed by the two girls. The Wookiee hugged the old man, giving out joyous sounds. Hasti regarded Han coolly. “Attack of conscience?”
    Han angled a thumb at the Wookiee. “My partner’s a sentimental fellow. Do you feel like telling us what we’re getting into?”
    Indicating Viurre and Kiili with a slight nod, Badure cleared his throat meaningfully. Viurre took the hint and, dragging the tall blond with her, was suddenly inspired to inspect some nearby foliage. In confidential tones Badure asked Han, “You must’ve heard of the ship called the
Queen of Ranroon
?”
    Chewbacca quivered his nose in surprise, and Han’s eyebrowsshot up. “The treasure ship? The story they use to put kids to bed?”
    “Not story,” Badure corrected, “
history
. The
Queen of Ranroon
was crammed full with spoils from whole solar systems, tribute to Xim the Despot.”
    “Listen, Badure, crazies have been hunting that ship for centuries. If she ever existed, she was either destroyed or someone plundered her long ago. You’ve been watching too many holo-thrillers
    “When did I ever go chasing vacuum?” the old man countered.
    A good point. “You know where the
Queen
is? You’ve got proof?”
    “I know where her log-recorder is,” Badure announced so confidently that Han found himself believing it. The vision of a treasure arose, a treasure so stupendous that it had become a synonym for phenomenal wealth, more than a man might squander in many lifetimes.…
    “Let’s get going,” Han proposed. “We’re not getting any younger.” Hasti’s derisive look didn’t faze him. Then he noticed that Badure’s face was drawn with tension.
    Following his gaze, Han turned to see a black groundlimo slowly cruising toward them. Han drew Badure over to the coach, encouraging Hasti to move as well with an inclination of the head. Chewbacca, who had already thrown Badure’s and Hasti’s light baggage into the passenger cab, was also on the alert.
    Someone in the limo had noticed their reaction. The black groundcar accelerated sharply and veered straight at them.
    “Everybody into the coach,” Han yelled as the limo jumped the curb and screeched to a stop, blocking the coach’s front cowling. Badure began pushing Hasti into the coach’s front seat as Chewbacca, unable to carry his bowcaster on this peaceful world, glanced around for a makeshift weapon.
    Figures tumbled from the limo as Han drew his blaster. The blue concentric rings of a stun charge reached out and caught Badure, who had just propelled Hasti out of the way.She fell backward across the seat; Badure staggered. She managed to grab him and pull him onto the driver’s seat just as Han fired an answering shot.
    By then a half-dozen beings had emerged from the limo with weapons of one kind or another. Han’s hasty return shot caught the stun-gunner, a