Return to Ord Mantell (Young Jedi Knights, 12) by Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta

Author:Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta [Anderson, Kevin J. & Moesta, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction
ISBN: 9780425163627
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 1998-10-15T07:00:00+00:00

“We’ll catch up to him in no time,” Zekk said. “He’s got no chance of outrunning the Falcon.”

The pilot ahead seemed to realize the same thing. He returned to his course and responded over the comm system. “H-hello, Millennium Falcon. This is Lilnt, captain of the Rude Awakening-an officially licensed cargo hauler from Ord Mantell. M-m-my apologies for that accidental release a minute ago. Our defensive systems malfunctioned and identified you as an enemy. I trust no one was injured?”

Han grunted. He nudged the Falcon closer to the other ship.

“What’s your destination, Lilmit?”

“Anobis. I’ve g-got some important… supplies to deliver.”

Anja glanced up from where she sat behind an invisible psychological wall that cut her off from the companions. She came forward to the cockpit.

“He must mean food and medicinal supplies,” Jaina said, not realizing that Han still had the comm circuit open.

“N-not, uh, exactly, Millennium Falcon,” Lilmit said. “But my c-cargo is important to the war effort, nevertheless.”

Anja moved farther into the cockpit. “He’s running weapons,” she said.

Her voice dripped with scorn.

“Lilmit, this is Han Solo, a special emissary from the New Republic.

I’ll be coming aboard for a brief inspection.” He brought the Falcon so close to the small cargo hauler that their hulls nearly touched.

“Y-Y-You what?” Lilmit stammered. The Rude Awakening put on a burst of speed that the Falcon easily matched. “Y-you have no right to detain my ship. I’m-I’m officially licensed.”

“Then we should have no problem. Besides, I’m well aware of how much a license from Ord Mantell is worth,” Han said, “and exactly how much one costs. ” He glanced at Anja. Her face bore a troubled expression.

“Are you ready to be boarded?” he said into the comm system.

The two ships flew along side by side, nearly touching, but Lilmit still refused to answer. Han extended his grappling hook and attached the docking field. “Let’s do this peacefully, Lilmit. Don’t make me blast you and take over the wreck of your ship. It’d be a heck of a lot of trouble for both of us.”

The other pilot mumbled something unintelligible, which Em Teedee offered to relay, but the young Jedi Knights quickly assured him that some things were better left untranslated.

&’ C-c-come on aboard, then,” Lilruit grumbled. “B-but you’re delaying my delivery. I’m perfectly legal.”

“His actions suggest otherwise,” Tenel Ka said.

The docking clamp engaged with a loud metallic clank, and after a hiss of air equalization, both ships were ready. “I’m going across first, kids,” Han said, taking the lead. “Just in case there’s a trap.”

“If it’s a trap, Dad,” Jaina said, following close behind him, “you’ll need us next to you, not hiding inside the Falcon.”

Han looked over his shoulder and cocked an eyebrow at her. “You know, you may be right.”

He opened the hatch and quickly descended into the smaller ship.

Anja’s face contained a thunderstorm of anger in anticipation of what she knew they would find aboard the smuggler’s ship.

Lilmit, a small grayish-skinned man, had winglike eyebrows and a wrinkled, ridged scalp. He met them with frowns and flailing hands.

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