Read Star Wars Journal - Hero for Hire by Han Solo for Free Online Page A

of bonds you’re forming. I wasn’t looking for involvement, believe me. My life’s credo was always this: One man, one Wookiee command post. And I like it that way. My loyalties were to survival. Period.
    Sai’da: I understand survival, but I’m curious about your lack of involvement.
    Han: Actually, I’m curious about your lack of involvement. I still don’t understand your deal—living here with Jabba the Hutt. How can you not be a part of his wayward circus, whether you want to be or not?
    Sai’da: I have already explained that we are not associated with Jabba the Hutt.
    Han: Oh, yeah, well, tell me how you can hang out in the same place with an immoral creature like Jabba and call yourself a monk? I know, you said you don’t make moral judgments. Well, maybe you ought to. And you could start by taking Chewie and me to Leia. I think you could if you honestly wanted to. We could come up with a plan.
    Sai’da: I cannot assist you with any such plan now. I’ve explained why. Perhaps later… please, return to your history and speak to me of this woman you wished to rescue then as now.
    Han: You might sympathize with me, Sai’da, but for a religious man, you sure don’t seem to have much compassion.
    I don’t think I want to talk to you anymore.
    Sai’da: You misjudge me, Mr. Solo. I know I don’t express myself in the most compassionate manner, but I am not accustomed to discussions of this nature. Your frustration with your situation is understandable. What can I do, within my capacity, to prove to you my good intentions?
    Han: Listen. I understand you’re just one monk against Jabba’s army, okay? I know the feeling. But you could at least get a map to us, couldn’t you?
    Sai’da: Yes, I believe that is something I could provide. Given time.
    Han: And if I don’t make it out of this little scrap alive, maybe you could look out for Leia or—
    Chewbacca: Narowrrr!
    Han: Let’s be realistic, Chewie. It’s a possibility. What do you say, compassionate one?
    Sai’da: That seems a reasonable and decent request. I accept the responsibility to the best of my ability.
    And now, if we are in agreement for a time, perhaps we could return to your history. Surely if I knew more about the princess it could only help me in my endeavors.
    Han: You’re right, I suppose. I just hope I can trust you. But since you seem to be my only option…
    Let’s see, why don’t I describe how romance started to bloom right down there in the garbage unit. The compressor was about to mash us into particles for ejection into the vast garbage collector of space. Oh yeah, to be sure, we were about to say our last hallelujah, when those droids finally remembered to tune us in, and saved our sweet humanoid hides. That’s when the princess started going all sweet on me. Yeah, that’s my interpretation.
    I have to admit she caught my attention. She’s as pretty as any woman anywhere in the galaxy. And I should know. There are some planets that have a reputation for beautiful women, like Beckoning Call Starr 3. Well, I think they should put Alderaan at the top of the list.
    Anyway, she had guts, too. Unfortunately, she also had a case of holding her royal nose too high in the sky. I don’t mind telling you that I don’t like taking orders from a woman. But I’m learning.
    Besides, remember that woman I told you about earlier—Bria Tharen—the one who pulled the blaster on me to keep me from my reward? Well, I’d rescued her, too, believe it or not. She was a slave I’d freed from the spice colony, Ylesia. Obviously, the romance did not end well. She was definitely an Alliance kind of woman only.
    And I was sure Leia was a similar kind of trouble, maybe worse. You gotta wonder how much room a woman like that has in her heart for romance. And listen, you can’t trust royal titles any more than you can trust a woman. To be sure.
    The fact is, I trusted only my main pal and partner, Chewbacca. Huh, Chewie?
    Chewbacca: