Star Wars_ The Han Solo Adventures - Brian Daley [186]
Bollux, a gleaming green, barrel-chested automaton, had arms long enough to suggest a simian. The computer, an outrageously expensive package built for maximum capacity, was painted a deep blue, whence came his name. Part of Han’s post-Corporate Sector splurge had included the modification the two mechanicals had requested, because without them he and the Wookiee might never have survived. Bollux now contained a newer and more powerful receiver, and Max had been provided with a compact holo-projector.
“That was,” the little module objected. “Can I help it if you’re so flaming fast? I could cut response time to nil, if you want.”
Han sighed. “No. And watch your language, Max; just because I talk like that doesn’t mean you can.” He took the combat charge his weapon usually carried from its case at his belt.
Badure was reclining in one of the acceleration chairs. “You’ve been practicing all through this run. You’re beating the bailie every time. Who’s got you worried?”
Han shrugged, then added as if by afterthought, “Did you ever hear of a gunman called Gallandro?”
Both of Badure’s thick eyebrows rose. “The Gallandro? You don’t bother yourself with small-timers, do you, Slick? So that’s it.”
Han looked around. Hasti, at her own and Badure’s insistence, had commandeered Han’s personal quarters—a cramped cubicle—for some secret purpose. Chewbacca was at the controls, but Skynx was present. Han decided it didn’t matter if the Ruurian heard.
“I backed Gallandro down a while back, didn’t even realize who he was. See, he had to let me do it at the time because it was part of a bigger deal he was working. Later on, though, he wanted to settle up.”
Sweat gathered on his forehead with the memory. “He really moves; I couldn’t even follow his practice draw. Anyway, I pulled a stunt on him and got out of the mess. I guess I made him look pretty bad, but I never thought he’d go to all this trouble.”
“Gallandro? Slick, you’re talking about the guy who single-handedly hijacked the Quamar Messenger on her maiden run and took over that pirate’s nest, Geedon V, all by himself. And he went to the gun against the Malorm family, drawing head bounty on all five of them. And no one has ever beaten the score he rolled up when he was flying a fighter with Marso’s Demons. Besides which, he’s the only man who ever forced the Assassins’ Guild to default on a contract; he personally canceled half of their Elite Circle—one at a time—plus assorted journeymen and apprentices.”
“I know, I know,” Han said wearily, sitting down, “now. If I’d known who he was then, I’d have put a few parsecs between us, at least. But what does a character like that want with me?”
Badure spoke as to a slow-witted child. “Han, don’t make someone like Gallandro back down, then walk away making a fool of him. His kind live on their reputations. You know that as well as I do. They accept no insult and never, never back down. He’ll make you his career until he settles with you.”
Han sighed. “It’s a big galaxy; he can’t spend the rest of his life looking for me.” He wished he could believe that.
There was a sound behind him, and he threw himself sideways out of his chair, firing in midair, rolling to avoid the remote’s sting-shot. His tracer beam hit the dodging globe dead center. “Good try, Max,” he commented.
“You strike me as being very adept, Captain,” Skynx said from the padded nook over the acceleration couch.
Han climbed to his feet. “You know all about master blastermen, don’t you?” He appraised the academician. “Why’d you come on this run anyway? We could’ve brought the disk to you.”
The little Ruurian seemed embarrassed. “Er, that is, as you probably know, my species’ life cycle is—”
“Never saw a Ruurian until I met you,” Han interjected. “Skynx, there’re more life forms in this galaxy than anyone’s bothered to count, you know that. Just listing the sentient ones is a life