CHAPTER THREE
"Naboo, eh?" Han asked as he, Leia, Chewbacca, Toah, and C-3PO boarded the Millennium Falcon. "That's out in the Chommell sector, isn't it? Chewie and I've been there a few times."
Chewbacca growled as they got into the cokpit. "I know," Han sighed. "We've only been there once, briefly, but I've got a good memory."
The Wookiee growled again. Han glared at his co-pilot. "That doesn't count," he said. "Besides, that wars partly Lando's fault anyway."
While Han and Chewbacca continued their argument, Toah turned to Leia. "How does Captain Solo understand Wookiee language?" he asked.
Leia shrugged. "I don't know. I've often asked him, but I never got a straight answer."
The Millennium Falcon soon began to rise off the steel floor of the Protector's hangar and flew off.
"All right, Chewie," Han said, flipping switches across the ship's control panel. 'Set a course for the Chommell sector, grid coordinate O-17."
The Wookiee growled in acknowledgement and entered the coordinates. Soon, the hyperspace tunnel opened and the Millennium Falcon jumped to lightspeed.
* * *
Lando sipped his mug of hot chocolate and leaned back in his seat. He wasn't as comfortable here on Had Abbadon than at his apartment on Coruscant, and even less than on Cloud City or his homeworld, Socorro.
But it would have to do. Besides, if everything went well, he'd be heading back to Coruscant in no time.
Suddenly, the door opened, interrupting Lando's thoughts. Commander Hawk and the Sullustan Nien Nunb ran in.
"General!" Hawk said, urgently. "You should come see this!"
Lando hurriedly got up from his seat and set down his drink. He ran out of the base and looked up towards the sky, his eyes widening. In the red sky of Had Abbadon, he could see what at first looked like a space station, but he soon realized...it was a Star Destroyer.
"By the thousand moons of Iego!" Lando exclaimed. "That's bigger than even Vader's flagship!"
He turned to Hawk. "Have all weapons ready to fire on my signal!" he said. "Nien, contact the Protector and ask them to send Rogue Squadron!"
As Hawk and Nien left, Lando sighed, turning to the Super Star Destroyer. "There goes my hopes of returning to Coruscant."
* * *
"This is it," Leia said, looking upon the sea-green planet. "This is Naboo."
"I wouldn't know," Han muttered. "I don't have a mystic field that tells me stuff."
Leia shot her husband a look but said nothing. The Millennium Falcon flew over the dark lakes, past the royal city and its green plains, and into a hangar after sending a permit to security. As the Falcon landed, Toah saw several people gather nearby, as if they were expecting them.
The ramp lowered and the five of them-Han, Chewbacca, Leia, Toah, and C-3PO-got off. One of the gathered people, an aged man who wore a dark-blue and black outfit, bowed.
"Welcome to Theed," he said. "I am Senator Ruto Graven. King Narus is waiting to speak with you, Miss Organa."
"Thank you, Senator Graven," Leia replied. While she left, Graven glanced at Toah.
"Ah, you must be Master Skywalker's apprentice. You may see the King as well."
"Hey, what about Chewie and me?" Han demanded. "She's my wife!"
Graven eyed the Corellian pilot carefully. "Very well," he said, adding a glance at Chewbacca. "But you may have to wait in the dining room..."
* * *
Luke's X-wing fighter slowly landed onto Had Abbadon's desert-like plain. He could see the white-goateed Admiral Argen awaiting him, with no stormtroopers from what Luke could see. As he climbed out of his fighter, Argen spoke.
"See, Master Jedi? I kept my word."
"I see," Luke said. "Now what about this truce?"
"Ah, yes," Argen replied. "As you know, this war has gone on for far too long, even though the Emperor and Lord Vader are long dead."
"Agreed," Luke said, walking towards Argen. "I thought you would give up after Endor."
"Many of us have. Some of us, obviously, have not. Pestage, Isard, Shadowspawn, Zsinj...." Argen sighed. "Of course, they've all been defeated or killed...well, not all..."
"What do you mean, 'not all'?" Luke asked, suspiciously.
Argen smirked. "Well, Grand Admiral Thrawn lives on in the Deep Core, on Byss."
"Byss?" Luke asked. "Where's that?"
"I believe that Force thing of yours can answer that," Argen said. "It is quite close to the galaxy's core."
"I see," Luke said. "And you're telling me this why?"
The bearded admiral smiled. "I think it's obvious. I want you to capture Thrawn."
Luke rose an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Why. that's the only way this war can end, of course," Argen said. "By ending the lineage of warlords!"
"I know," Luke replied, crossing his arms. "But why do you want me to do this? Isn't Thrawn your ally?"
Argen screwed up his face into one of disgust. "I have no idea why Emperor Palpatine appointed an alien to be as one of his Grand Admirals," he said, mostly to himself. "Almost makes me wish I didn't join the Empire..."
"So what you're saying," Luke said, "is that your defecting from the Empire?"
"You could call it that..."
"Just because of Thrawn?"
"Yes."
Luke kept an eye on the admiral. "Fine," he said. "I'll go to Byss and capture Thrawn. But don't pull any tricks."
Argen smiled. "Why would I?"
* * *
Harkon Dell was forced into a dark room, with seldom any light, other than a large, red holographic screen.
"Welcome, senator," said a voice Harkon found vaguely familiar. "I hope you enjoy your stay..."
Harkon saw a chair swivel around, gasping.
"Because I highly doubt you'll be leaving..."
The Ralon Senator found himself coughing, reaching for his throat.
"Ever."
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