Part 13 (2/2)

And flew straight into the heart of the cliff.

The sunlight disappeared, consumed by darkness as he navigated the narrow, twisting tunnel that wound through the rock. Luke could almost antic.i.p.ate the turns before they appeared. A sharp right, then two zig-zagging lefts, a hairpin curve around a jagged outcropping.

He'd memorized the map of the course but knew that wasn't it.

It was as if he could feel feel the shape of the course, the direction that the Podracer wanted to fly. As if they were alive, and a part of him. He pushed the Podracer even faster, twisting and turning on instinct. A bulky Manta RamAir Podracer, piloted by the c.o.c.ky Glymphid, appeared ahead of him. Luke shadowed him on the next turn, hugging the inside track. Sparks flew as his engines sc.r.a.ped against the wall of rock-but as they emerged on the straightaway, Luke pulled ahead. As the tunnel released them into open air, Luke pa.s.sed two of the other racers, shooting ahead toward the next leg of the race. the shape of the course, the direction that the Podracer wanted to fly. As if they were alive, and a part of him. He pushed the Podracer even faster, twisting and turning on instinct. A bulky Manta RamAir Podracer, piloted by the c.o.c.ky Glymphid, appeared ahead of him. Luke shadowed him on the next turn, hugging the inside track. Sparks flew as his engines sc.r.a.ped against the wall of rock-but as they emerged on the straightaway, Luke pulled ahead. As the tunnel released them into open air, Luke pa.s.sed two of the other racers, shooting ahead toward the next leg of the race.

He turned his face to the wind, jolted by the exhilaration of making it through. Back on Tatooine, he'd raced his T-16 through Beggar's Canyon, secretly imagining it was still part of the famous Mos Espa Podrace circuit. But no amount of imagining could have prepared him for the thrill and terror of an actual race. The deafening rumble of engines.

The shuddering vibration of the c.o.c.kpit, seeping into his bones. The gritty taste of dirt and exhaust fumes in his mouth, as he closed in on the leader, the Bin Ga.s.si Quadrijet. The blur of color and light as the world streaked past.

Unlike the Podraces Luke had seen, this race had only one lap-which meant if he fell behind again, he'd have almost no chance of catching up. According to the map, he would soon reach Aliuun Gorge, a narrow, twisting ravine that tunneled through the earth. It would dead end at the base of a steep plateau, requiring a quick pull up and a near ninety degree climb. From there, he would face a labyrinthine network of underground caves and tunnels that fed into a spiraling vertical pa.s.sage. If he made it through, it would eventually eject him onto the wide plains for the final straightaway.

The narrow path through the cliff wall had been, by far, the easiest obstacle he would encounter. Luke squeezed the controls, increasing his thrust. His grip nearly slipped as the Podracer shot forward, bouncing roughly on the Bin Ga.s.si's wake. He felt no fear, only the urge to push harder, to go faster.

A cool certainty flowed through him. He was going to survive.

More than that: He was going to win.

”Unbelievable!” Haari Ikreme Beeerd lowered his electrobinoculars and turned to Han, whom he had apparently decided to forgive in the spirit of the race. ”Your human's actually pulling ahead.” He shook his lumpy head in confusion. ”I never thought he'd make it past the gorge, much less the corkscrew. I've never seen anything like it.”

”I have,” a grizzled Rodian said. ”Though not since that kid back on Tatooine. You're all too young to remember-but I'll never forget. That was something.”

” This This is something,” Haari Ikreme countered. He pulled out a stack of credits, muttering to himself. ”I wonder if it's too late to change my bet.” is something,” Haari Ikreme countered. He pulled out a stack of credits, muttering to himself. ”I wonder if it's too late to change my bet.”

The a.s.sa.s.sin calling himself Tobin Elad peered at the viewscreen, but he was listening intently to the chatter around him. He had a.s.sumed his target would be an alien. The piloting skills required to destroy the Death Star were considered beyond human capabilities. Everyone knew that to be true.

But now here was another truth: Luke Skywalker had capabilities like no other human.

”Here they come!” the Rodian shouted, pointing into the distance. Four Podracers appeared on the horizon, screaming toward the finish line.

”He's actually doing it!” Han exclaimed, pounding X-7 on the back.

Luke was pulling up fast on the inside, edging around the Bin Ga.s.si Podracer that had fallen behind after an early lead. The Nuknog at the controls swung a hard left, trying to b.u.mp Luke out of the way. Luke weathered the attempt, nudging past the Bin Ga.s.si. The alien veered toward Luke again, too hard, and flung himself into a wild spin. Careening out of control, he nearly crashed into the Vokoff-Strood and the Radon-Ulzer battling it out for the lead. As they struggled to avoid the spiraling Bin Ga.s.si, Luke surged ahead, steering effortlessly around the Nuknog. The cam droids clocked his speed at nearly 850 kilometers per hour.

”He's in the lead!” Han shouted. ”I knew the kid had it in him!”

X-7 cloaked his face in a hearty grin.

Is it you? he wondered, watching as Luke's Podracer crossed the finish line, two full seconds ahead of his nearest compet.i.tor. he wondered, watching as Luke's Podracer crossed the finish line, two full seconds ahead of his nearest compet.i.tor. Are you the one I seek? Are you the one I seek?

If so, Luke's extraordinary piloting skills wouldn't be enough to save him.

You escaped death today, X-7 thought coldly. But if you're the pilot I'm looking for, But if you're the pilot I'm looking for, you'll never escape me. you'll never escape me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.

Kenuun's home was nothing like Mak Luunim's. Luunim's apartment had been all gold and silver, loud ostentation that screamed of wealth. Kenuun's apartment, while just as large, was nearly empty. It contained only a few pieces of sleek black furniture, nearly invisible against the black walls. Floor to ceiling transparisteel windows looked down on the Pilaan skyline, and Han realized they must be in one of the tallest buildings in the city. There was wealth here, too, but it was a quiet, careful wealth.

In Han's experience, that was the most powerful kind-and the most dangerous.

”I don't like this,” he murmured to Luke and Elad. ”We should have insisted on getting the disk at the race. Coming back here feels too risky.”

Chewbacca was back at the Millennium Falcon Millennium Falcon with the droids, readying it for take off. As soon as they had the disk in hand, they would be ready to track down Leia and leave this planet behind. It would be a simple, straightforward exchange. If Kenuun followed through with his side of the bargain. Still flush with his unexpected triumph, Luke was acting like they had the mission all wrapped up. But Han's gut was telling him the day was about to become interesting. with the droids, readying it for take off. As soon as they had the disk in hand, they would be ready to track down Leia and leave this planet behind. It would be a simple, straightforward exchange. If Kenuun followed through with his side of the bargain. Still flush with his unexpected triumph, Luke was acting like they had the mission all wrapped up. But Han's gut was telling him the day was about to become interesting.

And not in a good way.

”Okay, we're here,” Han said gruffly. ”Now: the datacard.”

Kenuun stood on the opposite side of the room, his long arms laced behind his back.

”Certainly, but first, won't you sit down? Enjoy a celebratory meal with me? I am, after all, so delighted at our success.” If he felt any delight, he was hiding it well. The Muun's face was as stern and expressionless as always.

”We'll just take the datacard and go,” Luke said. ”As we agreed.”

Kenuun nodded. ”Of course, of course. Anything for the winning pilot.” He tipped his head. ”Although, if I could persuade you to stay on, perhaps enter another race-”

”I'll just take the datacard,” Luke said.

The Muun nodded again, then pressed a console on the wall. A silk tapestry parted to reveal a silver safe. He thumbed the keypad, and the safe lid opened. Kenuun retrieved a slim datacard, holding it out to Han. ”I believe this is what you've been looking for?”

Han inserted the datacard into his datapad and confirmed it. The Muun had upheld his side of the bargain after all. ”Pleasure doing business with you, Nal.”

”And you as well,” the Muun said slowly. ” Captain Solo. Captain Solo. ” ”

Han froze. He'd never given the Muun his real ident.i.ty. None of them had.

”Oh yes,” Nal Kenuun said. Now Now he smiled. ”I know who you are. All of you.” He signaled with a spindly finger, and four stormtroopers emerged from hidden niches in the wall. They positioned themselves around the room, one in each corner, blasters aimed. he smiled. ”I know who you are. All of you.” He signaled with a spindly finger, and four stormtroopers emerged from hidden niches in the wall. They positioned themselves around the room, one in each corner, blasters aimed.

”There's a bounty on your head, Captain Solo-and yours, too, Tobin Elad. I expect that should be enough to repay me what I'm owed. With interest.”

”We owe you nothing,” Han snarled.

”Not you,” the Muun said coolly. ”The boy.” He narrowed his eyes at Luke. ”That was a rather valuable vehicle you destroyed in your 'practice' session.”

Luke's eyes widened. ”It was defective!”

”Be that as it may, the Podracer was intact when it left my possession,” Kenuun said.

”Now it's a heap of desert rubble. And as you know, debts must be repaid.”

”So let me me pay,” Luke said defiantly. ”I'm the one who crashed it. Let the rest of them go, I'll stay here-” ”Luke!” Han protested. pay,” Luke said defiantly. ”I'm the one who crashed it. Let the rest of them go, I'll stay here-” ”Luke!” Han protested.

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