Star Wars_ Millennium Falcon - James Luceno [63]
In one of the arena's many competition areas stood a Shistavanen who looked far more ferocious than the fanged-and-clawed anooba he was showing. Closer still was a Sauvax who would have looked better as the main course on a waterworld than the bred-for-food beast with whom she was partnered. The bushy-maned Calibop behind the Sauvax looked better suited for flight than the scantily feathered reptavian perched on his shoulder.
Han had sat patiently through the awards for ugliest in rodent, marsupial, and reptilian, but he knew he had reached his limit the moment Gands and other insectoid owners began appearing on the arena floor with their bandara beetles and scorplans. The sheer repulsiveness of the pets they walked raised every hair on the back of his neck.
Allana, on the other hand, was mostly fascinated. From the start she had evinced a great empathy for animals and other creatures, even the ones Han considered repulsive. She had that in common with her father.
C-3PO used to entertain you with tales from The Little Lost Bantha Cub. He took you and Jaina on outings to zoos and game habitats. You escaped him once, ventured deep into one of Coruscant's murkiest and most dangerous canyons—
Han tried to derail his train of thought, but failed.
You were kidnapped by Hethrir. You rescued your mother from captivity by Warmaster Tsavong Lah. You watched your brother die, and were tortured by Vergere. You killed Onimi. You spent five years learning from Force-users throughout the galaxy and returned a changed person.
How could you have grown into what you became? Once my dear son, later so unrecognizable it hurt to admit that I'd fathered you, let alone raised you. How did I allow you to grow away from me, so far out of reach, so distant, so bound up in your own beliefs of what constituted right and wrong you drove even the Jedi against you? Did your ambition pass to your daughter? Did she inherit your susceptibility along with your curiosity, your weaknesses along with your strengths? Will she, too, be lured by false promises and unattainable goals? How closely do we need to watch her, Jacen? Or is she a benign alternative to the future you once represented?
Han clenched his hands and inhaled a stuttering breath.
I want to be able to forgive you …
Han felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to Allana. “What's up, Short Cake?”
“Can we get a treat?”
Han smiled. “I thought you'd never ask.”
“Captain Solo,” C-3PO said, “I would be only too happy to escort—”
“Uh-uh. You stay here and keep Leia company.” Han gestured broadly to the arena floor. “Pick out the breed you like and I'll think about buying one for you.” He looked past C-3PO to Leia, whose eyes were hidden behind tinted glasses and whose long hair was concealed under a short-haired wig. “We're going to the concession stand.”
“Bring me a Bama Bar.”
“Will do.” Han took Allana by the hand and led her to the aisle. “Shoulder ride?”
“Yes!”
He threw her gently up onto his shoulders, her legs dangling around his neck. She had extraordinary balance. He liked that she was a real kid. He and Leia had promised each other that their next kid wouldn't be a Jedi, and Han had been thrilled to learn that Allana would not be attending the Jedi academy.
The lobby swarmed with customers. He set her down on the tiled floor.
“What do you want?”
“Whipped treat.”
“Single or double?”
“Double?” she said shyly.
Han grinned. “Does Leia want a regular Bama Bar or one with blumfruit?”
Allana closed her eyes. “Um … with blumfruit.”
“Coming right up.”
In line ahead of Han were two interesting-looking beings. A Yinchorri and a … Tintinna, Allana decided, proud of herself.
As Han was ordering at the counter, Allana caught sight of an even more peculiar creature all the way on the other side of the lobby. Just about her height, the animal had long, floppy ears and two big feet