Read Online Star Wars Journal - Hero for Hire by Han Solo by Donna Tauscher - Free Book Online
Authors: Donna Tauscher
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kid was barely off the farm! And the Alliance was willing to give him a plane and a ticket to oblivion. And he wanted me to join him. Flattered me with how they needed good, experienced pilots. Oh, I’m good all right. But I’m smart, too.
When he started talking to me about giving my life some meaning, I went for my reward and my life. Luke’s about to be blown to the outer reaches of the galaxy and he’s wanting to discuss the meaning of life. Give me a break.
Well, I didn’t get much of a break because here comes the princess. She doesn’t give you much of a chance to keep feeling tender toward her. I’d had my discussion with the kid, so I kept it short with her. I just said, “No,” to every plea and insult.
I did add that maybe she could do Luke a favor and keep him from dying a young death. I knew she was the only one who could keep him grounded. But what was the difference, really? That would be just as dangerous. It was just a matter of choosing how to go—by land or by air. There was no stopping the Death Star.
Chewbacca managed to keep his thoughts to himself.
Chewbacca: Bowraakk!
Han: I know, Chewie, it was hard to disagree with me and keep it to yourself. And you were trying to stand by me—in a very subdued kind of way.
I was curious though about what kind of cross-eyed plan they would come up with to attack the space station. So, I sat in on the briefing. At first, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
This guy, Dodonna, said the only way to destroy the Death Star was to send small one-man fighters in. That the Imperials were prepared for a full frontal assault, but not the one-man jobs. That was their only weakness. Maybe a fighter could penetrate their defense.
Actually, when I thought about it, the plan made some sense to me. You know how you’re all preoccupied with the big thing in front of you and then something little comes along and knocks you for a loop? It’s always about what you don’t see coming.
So, there they were, all these misfit Rebels, suited up and intent, listening to Dodonna’s one-chance scenario. They would have to approach this monstrous orb in their midget fighters. They would have to skim along a narrow trench on the surface in search of a two-meter-wide exhaust port. And, at high speed, drop a proton torpedo down it.
Ultimately, I wasn’t buying it.
Those pilots were ready to do their duty, but they looked stunned, like they knew it was an impossible task. There was no small amount of grumbling. Except Luke, who was bragging about bull’s-eyeing womp rats on Tatooine. Yeah, this was going to be some fun summer day just like back on the farm. I’m tellin’ you, the kid thinks he’s invincible.
Anyway, Leia was right about the Imperial forces having us tagged. They tracked us to Yavin and were moving in for their final day of glory—the destruction of the Rebellion. Not that I wanted to think too much about it.
Chewie and I went back to load up the Millennium Falcon with the reward that was going to save us from oblivion. Luke came by to harass me one more time. Sure, I was feeling pretty weird about seeing him off to his death and me doing nothing about it. But I didn’t let on that anything was on my mind. My smart mouth kept working despite my conflict.
I offered to let him come with me. I said I could use a good fighter. Which seemed to disgust him even more. He finally left, but not before I found myself saying, and of all things, meaning it: “May the Force be with you.” It just kind of popped out. I don’t know. Luke had that warrior’s glow you read about in the ancient histories. It made me want to say something decent to him.
Then Chewie starts in with his looks again. He wasn’t going to let up on me yet. Money right there in his hands and he’s ready to walk away from it. A Chewie I’d never seen before.
Actually, I wasn’t exactly myself either. It was like I was two people with different ideas about what to do. The old me
When he started talking to me about giving my life some meaning, I went for my reward and my life. Luke’s about to be blown to the outer reaches of the galaxy and he’s wanting to discuss the meaning of life. Give me a break.
Well, I didn’t get much of a break because here comes the princess. She doesn’t give you much of a chance to keep feeling tender toward her. I’d had my discussion with the kid, so I kept it short with her. I just said, “No,” to every plea and insult.
I did add that maybe she could do Luke a favor and keep him from dying a young death. I knew she was the only one who could keep him grounded. But what was the difference, really? That would be just as dangerous. It was just a matter of choosing how to go—by land or by air. There was no stopping the Death Star.
Chewbacca managed to keep his thoughts to himself.
Chewbacca: Bowraakk!
Han: I know, Chewie, it was hard to disagree with me and keep it to yourself. And you were trying to stand by me—in a very subdued kind of way.
I was curious though about what kind of cross-eyed plan they would come up with to attack the space station. So, I sat in on the briefing. At first, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
This guy, Dodonna, said the only way to destroy the Death Star was to send small one-man fighters in. That the Imperials were prepared for a full frontal assault, but not the one-man jobs. That was their only weakness. Maybe a fighter could penetrate their defense.
Actually, when I thought about it, the plan made some sense to me. You know how you’re all preoccupied with the big thing in front of you and then something little comes along and knocks you for a loop? It’s always about what you don’t see coming.
So, there they were, all these misfit Rebels, suited up and intent, listening to Dodonna’s one-chance scenario. They would have to approach this monstrous orb in their midget fighters. They would have to skim along a narrow trench on the surface in search of a two-meter-wide exhaust port. And, at high speed, drop a proton torpedo down it.
Ultimately, I wasn’t buying it.
Those pilots were ready to do their duty, but they looked stunned, like they knew it was an impossible task. There was no small amount of grumbling. Except Luke, who was bragging about bull’s-eyeing womp rats on Tatooine. Yeah, this was going to be some fun summer day just like back on the farm. I’m tellin’ you, the kid thinks he’s invincible.
Anyway, Leia was right about the Imperial forces having us tagged. They tracked us to Yavin and were moving in for their final day of glory—the destruction of the Rebellion. Not that I wanted to think too much about it.
Chewie and I went back to load up the Millennium Falcon with the reward that was going to save us from oblivion. Luke came by to harass me one more time. Sure, I was feeling pretty weird about seeing him off to his death and me doing nothing about it. But I didn’t let on that anything was on my mind. My smart mouth kept working despite my conflict.
I offered to let him come with me. I said I could use a good fighter. Which seemed to disgust him even more. He finally left, but not before I found myself saying, and of all things, meaning it: “May the Force be with you.” It just kind of popped out. I don’t know. Luke had that warrior’s glow you read about in the ancient histories. It made me want to say something decent to him.
Then Chewie starts in with his looks again. He wasn’t going to let up on me yet. Money right there in his hands and he’s ready to walk away from it. A Chewie I’d never seen before.
Actually, I wasn’t exactly myself either. It was like I was two people with different ideas about what to do. The old me
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