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By Root 715 0

see the Cloud City of Bespin through the cockpit window. The city was immense and seemed to float in the clouds as it emerged through the white atmosphere. As the Millennium Falcon approached the city, it became evident that the expansive city structure was supported from below by a thin unipod. The base of this supporting stalk was a large round reactor that floated through its billowing sea of clouds.

The Millennium Falcon dipped closer to the huge city and veered in the direction of its landing platforms, flying past the rising towers and spires that dotted the city's landscape. In and about these structures cruised more of the twin-pod cloud cars, gliding effortlessly through the mists.

Han gently brought the Falcon in to land on Platform 327; and as the ship's ion engines whined to a stop, the captain and his crew could see the welcoming party moving toward the landing platform with weapons drawn. Like any cross-section of the citizenry of Cloud City, this group included aliens, droids, and humans of all races and descriptions. One of these humans was the group's leader, Lando Calrissian.

Lando, a handsome black man perhaps the same age as Solo, was clad in elegant gray pants, blue shirt, and a flowing blue cape. He stood, unsmiling, on Landing Platform 327, waiting for the Falcon's crew to disembark.

Han Solo and Princess Leia appeared at the open door of their ship, with blasters drawn. Standing behind them was the giant Wookiee, his gun in hand and a bandoleer of ammunition packs slung over his left shoulder.

Han didn't speak but quietly surveyed the menacing welcoming party that was marching across the platform toward them. An early morning wind began to sweep along the ground, making Lando's cloak fly up behind him like enormous deep blue wings.

'I don't like this,' Leia whispered to Han.

He didn't much like it either, but he wasn't going to let the princess know that. 'It'll be all right,' he said quietly. Trust me.' Then, cautioning her, he added, 'But keep your eyes open. Wait here.'

Han and Chewbacca left Leia guarding the Falcon and they walked down the ramp to face Calrissian and his motley army. The two parties moved toward each other until Han and Calrissian stopped, three meters apart, to face each other. For a long moment, each one eyed the other silently.

Finally Calrissian spoke, shaking his head and squinting at Han. 'Why, you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler,' he said grimly.

'I can explain everything, ol' buddy,' Han said quickly, 'if you'll just listen.'

Still unsmiling, Lando surprised alien and human alike when he said, 'Glad to see you.'

Han lifted an eyebrow skeptically. 'No hard feelings?'

'Are you kidding?' Lando asked coolly.

Han was becoming nervous. Had he been forgiven or not? The guards and aides still had not lowered their weapons, and Lando's attitude was mystifying. Trying to conceal his worry, Han remarked gallantly, 'I always said you were a gentleman.'

With that, the other man broke into a grin. 'I'll bet,' he chuckled.

Han laughed in relief, as the two old friends at last embraced each other like the long-lost accomplices they were.

Lando waved at the Wookiee, standing behind his boss. 'How you doing, Chewbacca?' he asked amiably. 'Still wasting your time with this clown, eh?'

The Wookiee growled a reserved greeting.

Calrissian was not certain what to make of that growl. 'Right,' he half-smiled, looking uncomfortable. But his attention was distracted from this shaggy mass of muscle and hair when he saw Leia beginning to walk down the ramp. This lovely vision was followed closely by her protocol droid, who cautiously glanced around as they walked toward Lando and Han.

'Hello! What have we here?' Calrissian welcomed her admiringly. 'I am Lando Calrissian, administrator of this facility. And who might you be?'

The princess remained coolly polite. 'You may call me Leia,' she replied.

Lando bowed formally and gently kissed the princess's hand.

'And I,' her robot companion said, introducing himself to the administrator, 'am See Threepio, human-cyborg relations,