• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

"He's taking these weapons to the enemy."

"War material is forbidden, even for smugglers," Han Solo said.

"I can't remember the exact statute or regulation in the New Republic charter, but I'm sure that's the case."

"I would be pleased to look it up for you, Master Solo," Em Teedee volunteered. Lowie rumbled that it didn't matter at the moment.

Lilmit looked completely flustered. "I'm m-merely trying to make a living. There's a good m-market for these things on Anobis. There's quite a demand. P-people need to defend themselves."

"And which side have you chosen?" Tenel Ka said. "Which army do you support?"

"Oh, I couldn't take s-sides in a civil war," Lilmit said. "That would be unfair. I supply everybody. L-I-let them work it out. That's my creed."

Anja flared with anger, barely able to keep herself from cleaving the smuggler in two with her lightsaber. "You supply the enemy and our side?

You sell to both equally?"

"Wait a minute," Jaina said. "Which one is 'our' side? We're just going there to investigate."

Anja didn't hear her. She turned to Han Solo. "If you really pride yourself in being a high-and-mighty representative of the New Republic, you cannot let him deliver these weapons. Think of how many people these munitions will kill... how much more blood will be on your hands."

Han drew himself up. "Anja's right. We're going to have to confiscate your cargo, Lilmit."

"You c-can't do that!" the smuggler wailed. "I've got m-mouths to feed-an entire litter of offspring back at Ord Mantell. You'd put them out into the streets! I'll f-file a complaint!"

"I happen to know it doesn't cost much more to get a license permanently canceled than it costs to buy one in the first place."

Han's gaze didn't waver. "And in your case, I'd consider the credits well spent. You might want to try a more reputable line of business."

Han gestured to Lowie, who helped him lift a large crate of burrowing detonators and set it in the center of the cargo floor, just above an irising space hatch. "Let's pile these other crates on top," Han said.

Zekk, Tenel Ka, and the twins used the Force to help, while Anakin did his best to be of assistance in directing their efforts. Anja remained where she was, her lightsaber still drawn as if daring Lilmit to argue with them.

"I'll report you to the authorities on Ord Mantell," the smuggler whined.

"Y-you say you're confiscating my cargo, but you'll probably fence it yourself, s-s-sell it on the black market."

"Hey, not a chance," Jacen said.

Han Solo opened up a crate and removed one of the powerful detonators.

After setting its timer, he placed it back in the box and sealed it.

They locked all of the cargo crates together magnetically and coded the locks to a single control. After Anakin scrambled the coded combination for him, Han stood back. "I think we'd better leave our friend Lilmit alone so he can jettison his crates."

"B-b-but there's a fortune tied up in those weapons!" the little man said. He waved his webbed hands as his eyebrows flew upward like flames to his wrinkled scalp.

Han drew his blaster and pointed toward the crate with the timer ticking down. "If I were you, I'd get rid of the cargo, Lilmit. If you don't your ship'll become the newest, brightest little star in this part of the galaxy. I can't make that choice for you, but I'm not going to wait around to see what you do." He gestured, and the young Jedi Knights hurried after him to the Millennium Falcon's docking port.

Lilmit wailed, "B-but I'll never get that open in time! How m-much time did you set the countdown for?"

"Oh, a minute... maybe two. Can't remember exactly."

The smuggler ran to the crate, pounded on its side. "I can't g-get it open!"

"I suggest you jettison your cargo without delay," Tenel Ka said.

Lowbacca added his growl of affirmation.

The companions scrambled back into the Falcon. Han headed straight for the pilot's seat and strapped himself in while Jaina released the magnetic docking connection. They split away from the smaller cargo