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The Corellian’s hand dropped to his weapon, but before he could draw, he heard an all-too-familiar voice. “Freeze, Solo. Drop the blaster. And tell the Wook that if he moves, you’re both dead meat. I’d like another Wook scalp for my collection.”

“Chewie!” Han spoke sharply to the snarling Wookiee. “Don’t move!” Slowly, Han drew his blaster, let it drop from his fingers into the dusty alley.

“Both of you turn around. Slowly.”

The Corellian and the Wookiee obeyed.

Boba Fett stood there, in the dim recesses of the backstreet. Han knew that he was a dead man. Jabba must’ve decided to hire a real bounty hunter to make sure the job got done right. Han tensed, but Fett didn’t fire. Instead his artificially filtered voice reached the Corellian. “Relax, Solo. I’m not here for a bounty.”

Han didn’t relax, only watched in wonderment as Fett tossed Kabe a credit. The urchin scampered forward and caught it, then vanished into the dimness, chittering happily.

“You’re not here for a bounty?” Han said.

“Hhhhhuuuhhhh?” echoed Chewie, as amazed as his partner.

“Jabba told Greedo there was a bounty on you,” Fett said. “But he’s just using that idiot to keep you on your toes. A reminder that he’s serious about you paying up. If Jabba really wanted you dead, you know who he’d hire.”

“Yeah,” Han said. “You got a point.” He hesitated. “So … why are you here?”

“I landed an hour ago,” Fett said. “I made someone a promise, and I always keep my word.”

Han frowned. “What are you talking about, Fett?”

“She’s dead,” Boba Fett said. “I promised her a while back that if she died, I’d tell her father, so he wouldn’t spend his life wondering what had happened to her. But she never got around to telling me his name. So I decided to tell you, so you can send Tharen a message.”

“Dead?” Han whispered, through stiff lips. “Bria?”

“Yes.”

Han felt as though he’d been gut-punched. Chewie made a soft sound of sympathy, and put a hairy hand on his friend’s shoulder. Han stood there for a long moment, trying to deal with all the conflicting emotions. Grief was uppermost in his mind. Grief and regret.…

“Dead,” he repeated, dully. “How did you find out?”

“I have access to Imperial datanets. Bria Tharen died thirty-six hours ago. The Imperials have a confirmed ID on her body. Her squadron was playing rear guard during some intelligence operation.”

Han swallowed. Don’t tell me she died for nothing! “Did they attain their objective?”

“I don’t know,” the mechanical voice said. “Someone has to tell her father, Solo. I gave her my word … and I always keep my word.”

Han nodded dully. “I’ll do it,” he said. “Renn Tharen knows me.” This is gonna hit him hard.… He swallowed, and it hurt his chest. Chewie whined softly.

“Good,” Fett said, and the bounty hunter took a step back into the shadows. A moment later, Han and Chewie were alone. Slowly, the Corellian reached down and retrieved his blaster. Memories of Bria assailed him.…

Did you think of me, honey? he wondered. I hope it was quick and painless.…

Han’s steps came slowly as he and Chewbacca turned and walked to the mouth of the alley, and then turned onto the street. He had to find someone who’d let him use a comm unit … he had a very important message to send.…

The next day, Han made his way through the baking streets of Mos Eisley spaceport, wishing he’d worn a short-sleeved shirt instead of his grimy white one with his battered old black pilot’s vest. Within ten minutes of being out on the street, he had three different sentients come up to him, each with a warning that Greedo was out looking for him.

Han nodded, thanked each of the informants, flipped each of them a decicred. It never hurt to have good contacts.…

The midday glare was painful to human eyes, and Han squinted as he walked. There are a lot of Imp stormtroopers out, he thought, watching several squads trot by. Wonder why?

The sight of the blaster rifles they carried made him think of Fett and last night. After leaving the bounty hunter, Han had found a bar owner who’d allowed the Corellian to use his comm