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Tatooine is such a dump, Han thought, as he and Chewie made their way along the night-dark back streets. Jalus Nebl was so right.…

The two smugglers had arrived just hours ago. Han had decided that the only way to approach Jabba for more time to pay off the dumped load of spice was to talk to him in person. But things weren’t looking too promising. So far he’d been unable to reach Jabba on the comm to request an audience. And back in Docking Bay 94 where the Falcon was berthed, he’d encountered that dumb Rodian, Greedo, nosing around. The fool had tried to shake Han down for a payoff, implying that Jabba had taken a bounty out on the Corellian.

As if echoing Han’s thoughts, Chewbacca observed quietly that word was out on the streets that the Rodian kid, Greedo, was hanging around in the company of a has-been bounty hunter, one Warhog Goa.

Han snorted. “Chewie, you know as well as I do that Jabba’s just sendin’ us a little message, hirin’ that dumb thug, Greedo. If Jabba really wanted me dead, he’d hire somebody competent to do the job. Greedo’s so stupid he couldn’t find his behind with both hands and lasertorch.”

“Hrrrrrrnnnnnn …” Chewbacca also had a low opinion of the Rodian.

Han had a few spare credits, and he’d decided to check out the local games of chance. Maybe he could win enough credits to make a substantial downpayment that would satisfy Jabba for the moment, then he could concentrate on scraping up the rest of the credits.…

They walked into The Krayt Dragon Lounge, and stood looking around. Over in the corner, sure enough, there was a sabacc game in progress.

As Han and Chewie approached, the Corellian looked more closely at one of the players, a slender man with red hair and regular features. “Hey!” Han exclaimed. “Small universe! How are you, Dash?”

Dash Rendar looked up, gave the Corellian a wary smile. “Hey, Solo! Hey, Chewbacca! Long time no see. What’s this I hear about some caper on Ylesia?”

Han groaned aloud. Dash Rendar gestured to empty seats, and Han and Chewie took them. “Deal me in, gentles,” Han said, digging out a handful of credits. “Chewie, you wanna play?”

The Wookiee shook his head, and wandered off to the bar in search of liquid refreshment. Han glanced at Rendar. “Hey, Dash, where’d you hear about the Ylesian raid?” After the way people had treated him on Nar Shaddaa, it felt good to run into someone he knew who was still speaking to him.

“Oh, I ran into Zeen Afit and Katya M’Buele last week, and they told me,” Rendar said, dealing card-chips. “They said their group of Rebels treated them square, but the ones you had thrown in with stiffed everyone. That true?”

Han nodded. “Yep. True. They stiffed me, too, but nobody will believe me.” He scowled. “But I ain’t lyin’ when I say it. Jabba’s on the verge of takin’ out a real bounty on me, ’cause I can’t pay him what I owe.”

Rendar shrugged. “Tough luck,” he said. “Personally, I make it a policy never to get mixed up with those Rebel groups.”

“Well, that’s always been my policy, too,” Han said. “But this seemed like such a sweet deal.…”

“Yeah, Katya and Zeen were real happy, throwing credits around like they were bantha fodder,” Rendar said.

They’d only been playing for a few minutes, and Han was losing, when he felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down to see a little Chadra-Fan standing there. “Huh?”

She squeaked at him, and Han frowned. He wasn’t too good with her language.

“Kabe says there’s someone outside wants to see you,” Rendar translated.

Jabba! Jabba finally got my messages and wants to see me, Han thought. He’s sent someone to bring me to him. Now I can talk to him, smooth things over.…

Han tossed in his card-chips and stood up, motioning to Chewie to finish off his drink. “Okay, deal me out on this hand. I might be back later.”

With one hand on the grip of his blaster, Han and the Wookiee followed the street urchin out the back door, into the alley. They stood there for a second, looking around, but saw no one.

Suddenly Chewie whirled. “Rrrrrhhhhh!”

It’s a trap! Han realized