Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 01_ Outcast - Aaron Allston [118]
On the sensor board, the blip representing Wedge's interceptor was close, and his voice came across the comm board: “Han, I have a shot.”
Those words sent a new kind of chill down Han's spine. A shot from the interceptor's twin lasers, missing the spider and hitting a ship's hull unprotected by shields, could punch straight through. And the spider was on top of the cockpit pod.
On the other hand, Wedge knew that.
“Take your shot.”
The tunnel walls lit up red all around them. The Falcon's diagnostics reported no new damage. The energy spider's legs kept hammering—and now it heaved itself farther forward, its multifaceted eyes at the aft edge of the viewport, peering down at the living treats within the cockpit. Allana resumed her screams.
“No effect.” Wedge's voice sounded as impressed as it did annoyed. “Swallowed up the entire blast. It's like firing into a Yuuzhan Vong coralskipper void.”
“Great.” Ahead, Han could see a shaft of brightness stretching from floor to ceiling—sunlight entering through the operation's access shaft. “Going up, Wedge.”
“I'm on your tail.”
The Falcon took the right-angle turn into the climb like the finely tuned ship not everyone admitted she was. Han could see a circle of sunlight, their exit point, far above. The blows of the energy spider continued to rain down on the cockpit viewport.
And Han saw, finally, the effect the monstrous creature's attacks were having on his beloved craft.
None.
No cracks had appeared on the transparisteel. The viewports were not being kicked free of their housing.
Even without the shields operating, the Falcon was sustaining no damage.
Something eased in Han's chest, like a durasteel spring under tension suddenly snapping free.
The Millennium Falcon shot out into sunlight toward the pallid pink sky above. Han rolled her over upright.
Things were different than they had been three decades earlier. Han Solo wasn't a prisoner, running for his life from a creature far larger, far deadlier than he was. Behind the controls of the Falcon, he was the Falcon. As Han had once been nothing but a bit of food, the fearsome energy spider was nothing but a bit of trouble.
Two seconds later, Wedge's interceptor shot up from the shaft entrance and instantly leveled off in the Falcon's wake. Wedge brought his starfighter above the Falcon, remaining close for further laserfire attempts. The sensor board showed more starfighters and Lady Luck headed his way.
Han grinned, happy as a little kid. “Wedge, break off.”
“What?”
“Break off. The situation is under control.”
“If you say so.” The interceptor climbed, dropping behind as it did so. Clearly, to Wedge, break off meant “be prepared to return at any moment and open fire.”
Han looked back. Drathan Forge had his arms around Allana, shielding her, though his eyes were as big and as frightened as hers, and fixed as hers were on the monster above. “Al—Amelia.” Han's voice was now calm and strong enough that not only did the little girl grow quiet, but Leia gave her husband a curious look. Drathan, too, tore his gaze away from the unwanted passenger above.
“Yes?” Allana replied.
“We're going to be all right,” Han assured her. His voice was, even to his own ears, oddly calm.
The energy spider heaved itself farther forward, even against the tremendous wind force generated by the Falcon's speedy passage through the air. Now it opened its mandibles. Bluish fluid sprayed from its mouth, splashing across the top part of the viewport.
Han turned forward again. He sent the Falcon into a wide, easy loop back toward the shaft. “That's pure spice, Amelia. Notice the way it sparkles in the direct sunlight. It's being activated and used up.”
“Its legs are doing the same thing.” The little girl still sounded frightened, but she was finding some comfort in being analytical.
“That's right. If it were to stay out in the sunlight for too long,