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"So how did you get away?" Jacen said.

"Turned the tables on 'em, of course. I'd been keeping an eye on Czethros through some smuggler friends and found out he and Briff were taking an unmarked skimmer out to the place where I was supposed to give myself up.

I stole Czethros's own ship from its hangar bay, did a few things calculated to make the Imperials mad, then led them on a merry chase on my way to the exchange point."

"Must've been quite a ride," Jaina said.

Han grimaced. "Not one I'd like to repeat. I made it to the rendezvous with just enough time to hide before the stormtroopers showed up and nabbed Czethros along with his Rybet buddy. He claimed total innocence, of course, but the ship obviously belonged to him.

The stormtroopers searched the ship and found plenty of...

irregularities.

Weapons, drugs, and so on. While they were busy, I managed to sneak over and free Chewie. Next thing we heard, the Imperials had carted Czethros and Briff off to the spice mines on Kessel. I think his henchman worked some kind of deal a year later with Moruth Doole, a Rybet who worked on Kessel. From what I've seen in recent reports, Czethros is actually something of a respectable businessman on Ord Mantell these days. 'Course I'd bet my left repulsorpack module that he's still heavily into the smuggling business."

"Aren't you afraid he might try to cause trouble for you while we're there?" Jaina asked. "He could still be holding a grudge."

Han blew air through his lips. "Not a chance. Been too many years.

It's all lava under the bridge by now." But Jaina noticed a twinge of concern on his face.

She turned toward the navigation controls. "Time to drop out of hyperspace. We should be pretty close to Ord Mantell."

Han looked over and smiled at his youngest son. "Well, Anakin, let's see how your calculations worked out."

Jaina was pleased to see, as they dropped out of hyperspace, that the Falcon was already so close to the correct position that they were able to slip into orbit with only minor course modifications.

Ord Mantell was a bland planet of average size, with average gravity, and an average atmosphere. Its topography showed the usual landscape variations-mountains, forests, and swamps. Skeins of clouds embroidered white patterns in the sky below. However, for orbital convenience and launching maneuvers, much of the equatorial band across the continents had been settled and converted into spaceports that boasted large docking bays and no-questions-asked cargo-handling policies.

Ord Mantell had some of the most lenient banking laws in the New Republic, famous for their flexibility. Banks there would accommodate anyone, in any line of business. As long as customers didn't cause trouble, or at least didn't get caught-and remembered to pay the appropriate landing fees, tariffs, and permit taxes-bankers never interfered.

Han looked over at his daughter. "Ever piloted a ship down from orbit all the way into a docking bay?" he asked.

Jaina brightened. "Nothing as big as the Falcon. I've done it with the Rock Dragon quite a few times, though."

"Well then, this'll be no problem for you," Han said, but his lop sided smile twitched slightly, as if he were nervous. Jaina pretended not to notice. "Go ahead and take her down."

Jaina used the copilot controls to alter their vector and plow into the atmosphere at a shallow angle. While they descended, Anakin helped her to locate a landing beacon from the docking bay at which Han had reserved a berth for the Falcon. He programmed in their landing coordinates.

The atmosphere shone blue on the equator as they dove closer to the surface. Jaina watched the silver-white belt of development that girdled the world resolve itself into a bustling metropolis filled with blocky prefab buildings, large flat rooftops, and countless balconies that extended out far enough for small private craft to launch secretly in the dead of night.

"Most of those buildings don't have addresses," Han Solo explained.

"On this planet, if you don't know where you are and where you're going, then you