Star Wars Journal - Hero for Hire by Han Solo by Donna Tauscher Read Free Book Online Page A

mother. The other guy just wanted a vacation someplace with trees.
    It kind of flipped me out, to tell you the truth. I don’t like seeing myself in my enemies, you know? That was one scary realization. I mean, they were just talking about regular stuff. Like me and Chewie would do. Do you get what I’m saying?
    Sai’da: Yes. It would be easier if everyone were all good or all bad.
    Han: Something like that. Not that they weren’t the bad guys, because they were. I just wish they had been talking about evil instead of about their families and vacations. It would make life simpler, somehow. Still, once they’ve got their helmets on and are coming at you in swarms, I’m back to thinking of them as the insects of doom.
    Anyway, we were listening to the troopers chatting and inching our way to the door. We didn’t want to be caught too far inside the storage area in case they decided to check it out. Chewie rubbed past this wall unit of some sort and sparks started flying. The Death Star is not made to have organic material around, I can tell you that much.
    It got quiet in the other room. I was pretty sure we were about to have a little face-to-face with the troopers. But then an announcement blasted into the living quarters that two intruders were cornered near the loading dock! “Everyone report to section five.” That was not good news. Except for the fact that the troopers left in a hurry instead of investigating the noise Chewie instigated.
    Chewie and I slinked out along the walls the same way we came in. We made our exit and had to decide: which gleaming corridor should we chose this time?
    We were moving fast but stealth-like when we heard a strange hiss coming and turned into an alcove. Lucky us—we were just in time to see Darth Vader slither by. Now, I had heard tales of the Dark Lord over the years, but nothing prepared me for actually seeing him. I’ve seen some bad action in the galaxy, but this guy has everything beat. Have I mentioned that the Death Star was no place for a sane man? Well, this guy tipped the balance sheet. He was as evil as they get. I could see it. I could feel it. Catching his attention would not have been a smart move.
    When we couldn’t hear the hiss of Vader anymore, we wasted no time heading back to the docking bay. I was finally getting oriented.
    Still, we managed to pick up and lose a few more troopers on our way. I quickly forgot my insight into the inner lives of the stormtroopers when they opened fire on us. They weren’t like me. They were in the same ugly game as Darth Vader.
    Vader might be the walking embodiment of evil, but even evil needs help. So every trooper we downed with our blasters, I thought of as another speck of evil eliminated.
    We finally wrapped up our tour of the Death Star, and arrived back at the landing pad.
    The Falcon was waiting for us, guarded by the ever-loyal boys in white. She’d never looked more beautiful to me.
    Luke and Leia came running up behind us. I was glad to see them, too, of course, but I did wonder what took them so long.
    We were all just staring at the Falcon , waiting to make a move. Have you noticed that advance planning is not our strong point?
    Suddenly, the troopers noticed a commotion and moved away from my ship, giving us a shot at boarding her. We were hightailing it toward our one chance out of the Death Star when Luke spotted Ben. You’ll never guess what he was doing. Dueling with Darth Vader! What a sight that was, two guys who couldn’t be more different, Ben and Vader, fighting with their antique lightsabers.
    Then it got even stranger…
    The old man spotted Luke. Now, I didn’t see this so clearly, but Luke did, poor kid. And I trust him on this. Ben apparently just raised his lightsaber in front of his face, stood still, and let Vader take him out.
    Had to be a sacrifice. It freaked the kid completely and he screamed, “Nooooo!”
    That got the troopers’ attention. They started firing on him and the kid