Star Wars_ The Han Solo Trilogy 03_ Rebel Dawn - A. C. Crispin [120]
Bria nodded. “Yes, that was me, Han. But I couldn’t let you blow my cover. I was in that crowd for a mission.”
“What was that mission?”
She met his eyes steadily. “To assassinate Veratil, the t’landa Til. You fouled it up, though. Far as I know, Veratil is still alive. Though probably not for long.”
Han regarded her for a long moment. “You really have done just about anything for the Resistance, haven’t you?”
Bria was distressed by his stare. “Don’t look at me like that, Han!” she cried. “They’re evil! They deserve to be killed!”
He nodded slowly. “Yeah, I guess they do,” he said. “But … it’s kinda unnerving, you know?”
She gave him a shaky smile. “Sometimes I unnerve myself.”
When they reached Ord Mantell, Bria met with the Resistance leaders there to explain the mission and its importance. She was elated that, after their meeting, the Resistance promised to dispatch three ships and a hundred troops, plus appropriate support and medical personnel, immediately.
As Han and Bria were preparing to board the Falcon for the trip back to the Rebel deep-space rendezvous, one of the junior officers came up to her with a message flimsy. She scanned it, then looked up at Han. She gave him a tight smile. “HQ just got a message from Togoria. There’s a small contingent of Togorians who have volunteered to come along. They want us to pick them up on our way back.”
Han smiled slowly. “Muuurgh and Mrrov?” he guessed.
“It doesn’t say. But it’s a good bet they’re part of the group,” Bria said. “Can we?”
“Sure,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “Togoria’s a pretty world. I wouldn’t mind seeing it again.”
Bria looked away, too. It was on a Togorian beach that she and Han had first become close. It was a beautiful world, fraught with memories for both of them.
They didn’t talk much during the trip. Bria found herself so nervous that her stomach was in knots. She wondered how Han felt.…
Han eased the Falcon down onto the landing field bordering Caross, the largest city on Togoria. After completing his post-flight checks and updating his log, he and Bria headed for the landing ramp. A group of Togorians were already heading out to the field, and Han thought he recognized one huge black male with white chest hair and whiskers. And there was a smaller, orange and white female with him.
Bria smiled excitedly. “Muuurgh and Mrrov!”
The humans jogged down the ramp, and reached the ground just in time to be seized and hugged so violently their feet left the ground. “Muuurgh!” Han shouted, so glad to see his old friend that he wound up thumping the huge felinoid on the chest with his fists while his feet dangled. “How are ya, buddy?”
“Han …” Muuurgh was nearly choked with emotion. Togorians were an emotional people, especially the males. “Han Solo … Muuurgh very happy see Han Solo again. Too long it has been!”
He obviously hasn’t been practicing his Basic, Han thought, amused. Muuurgh’s Basic had always been rather fractured, but after all this time, it was worse than ever.
“Hey, Muuurgh! Mrrov! It’s great to see you both!”
After their greetings were over, Mrrov explained that there was a contingent of Togorians who’d had run-ins with Ylesia over the years who wanted to be part of the assault. “Six of our people were either enslaved or close to those enslaved there, Han,” Mrrov said. “We wish to have a part in making sure that no other Togorians will ever again be trapped by that terrible place.”
Han nodded. “Well, we can get started any time you wish,” he said.
Muuurgh shook his head. “Not possible until tomorrow, Han. Sarrah’s mosgoth was attacked mid-flight by big liphon. Broke its wing. Sarrah has borrowed mosgoth, sent us message, will be here tomorrow. Tonight Han and Bria our honored guests, yes?”
Han looked at Bria and shrugged. “Uh, sure,” he said.
She didn’t meet his eyes. “Fine.…”
They spent the afternoon catching up with their friends on ten years’ of history.