Artoo whistled on while Threepio translated. "Level five, detention block AA-

23. According to the information, she is scheduled for slow termination."

"No! We've got to do something."

"What are you three blabbering about?" an exasperated Solo demanded.

"She's the one who programmed the message into Artoo Detoo," Luke explained

hurriedly, "the one we were trying to deliver to Alderaan. We've got to help her."

"Now, just a minute," Solo cautioned him. "This is going awful fast for me.

Don't get any funny ideas. When I said I didn't have any 'better ideas' I meant it.

The old man said to wait here. I don't like it, but I'm not going off on some crazy

maze through this place."

"But Ben didn't know she was here," Luke half pleaded, half argued. "I'm sure

that if he knew he would have changed his plans." Anxiety turned to thoughtfulness.

"Now, if we could just figure a way to get into that detention block..."

Solo shook his head and stepped back. "Huh-uh-I'm not going into any

Imperial detention blocks."

"If we don't do something, they're going to execute her. A minute ago you said

you didn't just want to sit here and wait to be captured. Now all you want to do is

stay. Which is it, Han?"

The Corellian looked troubled-and confused. "Marching into a detention

area's not what I had in mind. We're likely to end up there anyway-why rush it?"

"But they're going to execute her!"

"Better her than me."

"Where's your sense of chivalry, Han?"

Solo considered. "Near as I can recall, I traded it for a ten-carat chrysopaz and

three bottles of good brandy about five years ago on Commenor."

"I've seen her," Luke persisted desperately. "She's beautiful."

"So's life."

"She's a rich and powerful Senator," Luke pressed, hoping an appeal to Solo's

baser instincts might be more effective. "If we could save her, the reward could be

substantial."

"Uh...rich?" Then Solo looked disdainful. "Wait a minute...Reward, from

whom? From the government on Alderaan?" He made a sweeping gesture toward

the hangar and by implication the space where Alderaan had once orbited.

Luke thought furiously. "If she's being held here and is scheduled to be

executed, that means she must be dangerous in some way to whoever destroyed

Alderaan, to whoever had this station built. You can bet it had something to do with

the Empire instituting a reign of full repression.

"I'll tell you who'll pay for her rescue, and for the information she holds. The

Senate, the rebel Alliance, and every concern that did business with Alderaan. She

could be the sole surviving heir of the off-world wealth of the entire system! The

reward could be more than you can imagine."

"I don't know...I can imagine quite a bit." He glanced at Chewbacca, who

grunted a terse reply. Solo shrugged back at the big Wookie. "All right, we'll give

it a try. But you'd better be right about that reward. What's your plan, kid?"

Luke was momentarily taken aback. Al his energies up till now had been

concentrated on persuading Solo and Chewbacca to aid in a rescue attempt. That

accomplished, Luke became aware he had no idea how to proceed. He had grown

used to old Ben and Solo giving directions. Now the next move was up to him.

His eyes were caught by several metal circlets dangling from the belt of Solo's

armor. "Give me those binders and tell Chewbacca to come over there."

Solo handed Luke the thin but quite unbreakable cuffs and relayed the request to

Chewbacca. The Wookie lumbered over and stood waiting next to Luke.

"Now, I'm going to put these on you," Luke began, starting to move behind the

Wookie with the cuffs, "and-"

Chewbacca made a sound low in his throat, and Luke jumped in spite of himself.

"Now," he began again, "Han is going to put these on you and..." he sheepishly

handed the binders to Solo, uncomfortably aware of the enormous anthropoid's

glowing eyes on him.

Solo sounded amused as he moved forward. "Don't worry, Chewie. I think I

know what he has in mind."

The cuffs barely fit around the thick wrists. Despite his partner's seeming

confidence in the plan, the Wookie wore a worried, frightened look as the restraints

were activated.

"Luke, sir." Luke looked over at Threepio. "Pardon me for asking, but ah-

what should Artoo and I do if someone discovers us here in your absence?"

"Hope they don't have blasters," Solo replied.

Threepio's tone indicated he didn't find the answer humorous. "That isn't very

reassuring."

Solo and Luke were too engrossed in their coming expedition to pay much

attention to the worried robot. They adjusted their helmets. Then, with Chewbacca

wearing a half-real downcast expression, they started off along corridor where Ben

Kenobi had disappeared.
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