Star Wars_ Millennium Falcon - James Luceno [119]
Poste gaped at him. “You're not thinking clearly. The protocol droid saw me.”
“No one listens to droids.” Jadak kept his eyes on the entrance to the Falcon's landing bay. “If the Solos decide not to leave Vaced, we make another try for the ship. If they decide to launch now … well, just follow my lead.”
“Right, because that's worked so well so far.”
Vaced's primary had only dropped a degree or so when they saw everyone but the Solos file out. The deputies loaded the two would-be thieves into the clunky landspeeder and took off toward town. The rotund marshal rode with Oxic and Koi Quire in the rented speeder they had arrived in.
“Let's go,” Jadak told Poste the moment the speeders were out of sight.
Han was inspecting the Falcon's undercarriage when they entered the bay. Hearing them, he came out from under the starboard mandible with his blaster drawn.
“We just wanted to make sure everything turned out all right, Captain,” Jadak said.
Han holstered the weapon. “Sure—if you call allowing a couple of ship thieves to get off with a charge of joyriding.”
“Frontier injustice,” Poste said.
“You're telling me. But to make a theft charge stick …” Han allowed his words to trail off. “Ah, frip.”
“Anything we can do?” Jadak said.
Han shook his head. “I just can't believe those guys would try to make off with my ship.”
“The Falcon's as famous as you are. Word must have gotten around that she was here.”
Han looked dubious. “It's not like somebody could sell her.”
“Paint her, remove the cannons, install a new identity telesponder …”
Han grinned. “Yeah, but then she ain't the Falcon.” He ran his eyes over the ship. “What's worse, they managed to sabotage my anti-intrusion safeguards.”
Jadak watched him for a moment. “I'm guessing you'll be headed for Nar Shaddaa to continue the search for past owners.”
“Maybe,” Han said in a distracted way. “I'm not sure. This little outing of ours has taken some pretty strange twists.” He glanced at Jadak. “Why, what's on your mind, Fargil?”
“I know it's a lot to ask, but I'm wondering if you'd be willing to drop us at Toprawa.”
Han waited for more.
“We need parts for some of the machines on the ranch,” Jadak went on. “An order placed from here will take weeks to fill, and we can't afford to be shut down for that long.”
“I know how that can be,” Han said, rubbing his chin. “Toprawa, huh? Sure, why not. It's not so far out of our way. Consider it thanks for all the info you gave us.” He looked at Poste. “And for telling me about seeing the Falcon launch.”
“No problem, Captain.”
“And thanks for cleaning up. You need time to throw some gear together?”
Jadak gestured to their rucksacks. “We've got everything we need.”
“All right then.” Han motioned to the boarding ramp. “Welcome aboard.”
Han trailed them up the ramp and into the corridor, where Leia and Allana were standing alongside the still-deactivated protocol droid.
“We're giving Quip and Mag a ride to Toprawa,” Han announced.
Leia tried to hide her surprise by turning to the droid.
“We didn't want to switch him back on till you were here,” Allana said.
Han gave his head a theatrical shake. “Will you look at this? That's the last time we leave him alone with the ship.” Reaching a hand behind the droid's head, he flipped the activation switch.
“What? Who are you? What are you doing on the ship?” C-3PO said. “Where am I? What happened?”
“You got yourself switched off is what happened,” Han said. “Why didn't you comlink me when the security system went down?”
“I made every effort, Captain Solo. But someone—yaaw!”
Too late, Poste tried to conceal himself behind Jadak.
“Take it easy, Threepio, they're our passengers. You're a nervous wreck.”
“But, Captain—”
“I know it's going to mean more work for you, but they're only aboard until Toprawa. Besides, we've all got jobs to do.”
“But, Captain Solo—”
“Not another word, Threepio,” Han said, raising his forefinger. “I mean it.”
C-3PO straightened.
“Threepio, come and help us get the Falcon ready for launch,” Allana said.
“Of course,