Star Wars - 278 - New Jedi Order 04 - Agents of Chaos 01 - Hero's Trial by James Luceno

Author:James Luceno [Luceno, James]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Solo, Leia, Space Warfare, Star Wars Fiction, Space Opera, General, Science Fiction, Skywalker, Imaginary Wars and Battles, Adventure, Han (Fictitious Character), Luke (Fictitious Character), Fiction, Skywalker; Luke (Fictitious Character), Solo; Han (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9780345428608
Google: NQs15dFitHIC
Amazon: 0345428609
Publisher: LucasBooks
Published: 2000-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

"Mind if I rest here a moment?" the alien asked in melodic Basic. "If I'm too heavy, I'll toss the cap." Han scowled at him. "Long as your head's in it."

"So you'd rather I let go."

"If you make sure to close the door on your way out."

"That isn't vacuum out there," the Ryn said, nodding toward the breach. "There's a mouth on the other side of that hole."

"Amouth ?"

"The mouth of a Yuuzhan Vong dread weapon. For taking captives." Han instantly saw the logic of it. The people, droids, and objects zipping past him weren't victims of compromised gravity; they were effectively beinginhaled by whatever it was that had taken a giant-size bite out of theWheel 's rim.

"So how do we gag that thing?" Han said.

The Ryn shook his head, long mustachios whipping about. "I don't think we can. But there might be a way to stifle it."

Han followed the Ryn's gaze to a seam in the corridor ceiling, between them and the maw.

"A blast shield!"

The problem was that the mushroom-shaped button that could lower the shield was located on the corridor wall, some five meters closer to the breach.

"There's a support strut just beyond me," the Ryn said. "If I release my grip on you, I may be able to grab hold of it. But I still won't be able to reach the shield activation button."

"Finish your thought," Han said, trying to ignore a sinking feeling.

"Then you'll have to let go and catch hold of me. That should put you close enough to tap the button with your foot."

"Assuming I manage to catch hold of you!"

The Ryn snickered. "Assuming also that I manage to catch hold of the strut. If I miss, well, I suppose it's a matter of how long you think you can hold on. Otherwise ..."

"Otherwise what?"

The Ryn grinned. "Otherwise, I'll see you in hell."

Han regarded him quizzically for a moment, then nodded grimly. "You've got yourself a deal. Good luck." The velvet-coated Ryn eased himself down Han's legs until he was dangling from Han's ankles, then disengaged. Han heard rather than saw him make harsh contact with the strut.

"You all right?" he called.

"Your turn," the Ryn yelled shortly.

Han took a steadying breath. Carefully unwrapping himself from the alloy rib, he let fly. The current was even stronger than he expected. In a split second he was rushing past the Ryn, but when he reached out wildly to arrest his motion he hugged only air.

He was already imagining himself inside the Yuuzhan Vong dread weapon when something wrapped itself around his chest under his arms, yanking him to a halt. It took Han a moment to grasp that the Ryn had snagged him with his tail.

"Kick the button, kick the button!" the alien squealed in a pained voice. "Or plan on taking part of me with you into that creature!"

Han looked to his right and spied the mushroom-button, almost within reach of his right foot. "Swing me to the right!" he yelled.

The Ryn's muscular tail spasmed just enough to set Han swaying and bring him within reach of the corridor wall.

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