Star Wars_ The Han Solo Trilogy 01_ The Paradise Snare - A. C. Crispin [136]
An Imperial officer was making his way through the crowd, now. As he passed Han, the Lieutenant paused and looked at him sharply. “Your name, Cadet?”
Han snapped to attention. “Cadet Han Solo, sir!”
“You forget how to salute, Cadet Solo?”
“No, sir!” Han said, and gave the man his best salute.
The officer gazed at Han’s face. “Cadet Solo, what happened to your face?”
For a moment Han was tempted to say he walked into a door, but he decided that the truth was probably the best answer. “Sir, I got in a fight.”
“Really? I could never have told,” the lieutenant said, a tinge of sarcasm in his voice. “What was the fight about, Cadet Solo?”
Han thought fast. “My opponent insulted the Imperial Navy, sir.”
After all, it was true.
The lieutenant raised an eyebrow. “Really, Cadet? That was most … unwise … of him. Did you give him a good thrashing for his disrespect, Cadet Solo?”
Han remembered just in time not to nod. “I did, sir. I assure the lieutenant that he will never say anything insulting about the Imperial forces again, sir.”
“Very good, Cadet Solo.” The lieutenant smiled faintly and walked on, to the head of the group.
Han breathed a long, slow sigh of relief. Made it through that one!
An amplified voice echoed across the landing fields. A noncommissioned officer was standing beside the lieutenant, giving orders. “Imperial cadets! Assemble in ranks!”
There was general confusion for a second, then the lines of cadets formed into ranks. “We will board the transport ship in rows. No talking, and pick up your feet.”
Silence fell. Han was in Row 4. He stood as straight as he could, looking neither left nor right, waiting for his orders to move. From somewhere, the martial theme of the Imperial Navy began playing in the background.
“Row one! March!”
“Row two! March!”
“Row three! March!”
Excitement coursed through Han, singing in his blood This is it. What I’ve waited for all my life …
“Row four! March!” bawled the noncom.
Han right-faced smartly and followed the man ahead of him toward the Imperator. As he marched, he allowed himself a faint smile.
Today it begins, he thought. My real life begins.
He imagined Dewlanna’s and Bria’s faces. They were smiling, too.
His feet were on the ramp. Han took a deep breath, the kind of breath that a newborn might draw in order to give its first cry, its first shout of, I’m here! Listen to me, I’m ALIVE!
Han Solo felt new, as though he’d just been born. The dark past tumbled off his shoulders, and only the bright future lay ahead.
He marched forward into it eagerly, and did not look back.
About the Author
A.C. Crispin is the author of the bestselling Han Solo Trilogy. Her newest project is a prequel to the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean films. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom, focuses on Jack Sparrow’s early life, and will be released May 17, 2011.
Ms. Crispin writes in her own universes, including her seven book StarBridge series, and Storms of Destiny, the first novel in a planned trilogy. She’s also created stories in other media universes, including Star Trek, V, and Alien. Crispin is active in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and serves as the Chair of Writer Beware, SFWA’s “scam watchdog” volunteer group. www.writerbeware.com
Ann Crispin is married to SF writer Michael Capobianco and lives in Maryland. Learn more about her current projects by visiting her website: www.accrispin.com.
By A.C. Crispin
Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy
The Paradise Snare
The Hutt Gambit
Rebel Dawn
Fantasy
Gryphon’s Eyrie (with Andre Norton)
Songsmith (with Andre Norton)
Star Trek
Yesterday’s Son
Time for Yesterday
The Eyes of the Beholders
Sarek
Science Fiction
The Starbridge Series – Books 1-7
The Exiles of Boq’urain:
Storms of Destiny
Winds of Vengeance
Flames of Chaos
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom
STAR WARS—The Expanded Universe
You saw the movies. You watched the cartoon series, or maybe played