Star Wars_ The Jedi Academy Trilogy 02_ Dark Apprentice - Kevin J. Anderson [49]
At another table a hammerheaded Ithorian ambassador sat by himself next to a small musical synthesizer. He hummed along with the atonal noises and plucked small leaves off a fresh ferny-looking snack. A pug-faced Ugnaught chittered and played electronic dice with a well-groomed Ranat. The bartender droid drifted from one table to another, attempting to be of service.
Han soon lost himself in thought, wondering where he had come to, thinking about how much his life had changed since his years as a spice smuggler for Jabba the Hutt and then as a general in the Rebel Alliance.
He continued to do important things with his life, but it just didn’t seem as real anymore. He had enjoyed spending time with young Kyp Durron. The young man reminded him so much of himself, and now Kyp had gone off to become a Jedi just like Luke.
“You’re gonna miss the kid, aren’t you?” a deep voice said. Han looked up to see Lando Calrissian standing over him with a big smile.
“What are you doing here?” Han said grumpily.
“I’m buying you a drink, old buddy,” Lando said. He shoved forward one of the prissy fruity concoctions, complete with bright tropical flower, that Han had bought Lando on the night of their sabacc game.
Han scowled and accepted it. “Thanks a lot.” He took a sip, grimaced, then took a gulp. Lando pulled up a chair.
“I didn’t invite you to sit down,” Han said.
“Look, Han,” Lando said, adding a stern edge to his voice, “when you won the Falcon from me in a sabacc game, did I spend years pouting and not talking to you?”
Han shrugged and looked up. “I don’t know. I pretty much stayed away all those years.” He paused, then added quickly, “And the next time we saw each other, you betrayed us to Darth Vader.”
“Hey, that wasn’t my fault, and I’ve more than made up for it since,” Lando said. “Listen, I’ve got a deal for you. Next time you get a chance, why don’t the both of us take the Falcon and go back to what’s left of Kessel? Maybe we can find my old ship there. If we do, I’d gladly take the Lady Luck back, and you can have the Falcon.” He held out his broad hand. “Deal?”
Han grudgingly admitted that it was the best he could hope for. “All right, pal,” he said, and shook Lando’s hand.
“Solo,” a woman’s sharp voice said. “They told me I’d find you here.”
“Can’t a guy get some peace?” he said, and turned to see a trim, attractive woman standing at the lounge entrance. She had shoulder-length reddish brown hair the color of some exotic spice. Her features were finely chiseled: a narrow chin and a mouth that looked as if it had spent too many years frowning and was just now learning the shape of a smile. The shards of ice that were Mara Jade’s eyes had warmed somewhat since the last time Han had seen her.
Lando stood up, sweeping his cape behind him and extending his hand. “Well hel-lo! Please join us, Miss Jade. May I get you anything? We’ve met before but I’m not sure you remember me. I’m—”
“Shut up, Calrissian. I need to talk to Solo.”
Lando laughed and went to get her a drink anyway.
Dark patches stood out on the shoulders and sleeves of Mara’s flight jacket, as if it had once borne the insignia of military service. Mara Jade had been the Emperor’s Hand, a special servant to Palpatine himself, and she had seen her life crumble after his death; she had blamed Luke for that and held a vendetta against him until recently.
Now, after the retirement of the great smuggler Talon Karrde, Mara seemed to become more open and ready to participate in broader events. She had managed a tenuous coalition of smugglers to help fight against Grand Admiral Thrawn, and she still maintained a loose alliance, even though some of the worst offenders—such as Moruth Doole on Kessel—refused to have anything to do with the New Republic and the smuggler’s alliance.
“What brings you back to Coruscant, Mara?