Han didn’t like people assuming he couldn’t handle things, but he didn’t like putting others in danger more. Denon was a big planet with lots of eyes, lots of guns, and lots of people looking to make easy credits, and if any of those eyes fell on him then he’d be toast but at least everyone else on the Falcon would be okay. Now, he had to worry about protecting the old Jedi, but if Boba showed up then he might have to defer to the Jedi again.
Maneuvering through the rain and dozens of aliens and humans clambering around the walkways of the landing platforms, Solo and Kenobi didn’t have to worry about blending in. Everyone was hooded and the city lights of Denon’s nightlife only barely illuminated the platform.The low level Han had landed on was unofficially reserved for the kind of crowd that didn’t want to stand out anyways. It wasn’t long until they were inside and taking a lift up to level 5.
“Care to tell me more about your contact?” Ben quipped quietly over his shoulder, “anything I should expect from him?”
Han chanced a glance to Obi Wan; they weren’t the only ones in the small elevator. They were being squished all the way to the back by a group of noisy Ithorians, Quarrens, and Rodians, and none seemed to care about the two humans uncomfortably crammed in the corner.
“Her,” Solo whispered back, “she goes by ‘Engg’. Scary looking Nautolan: dark clothes, blue, weird eye tattoo on her forehead, dangerous.”
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“How do you know her?”
Han let distant memories pass through his mind. No reason someone who’d be out of his life in less than an hour needed to know his life story.
“A job--it was a while back--anyways, we’re--”
“Friends?” Kenobi provided needlessly.
“Acquaintances,” Solo hissed back.
After a few stops, Han and Kenobi were the only ones left on the elevator, until they reached their level. Stepping out of the elevator, they continued down an empty hall. Dim overhead lights flickered and buzzed, casting sections of the metal hall into periodic darkness. Their steps resonated softly against the floors as they approached the wide entrance to Hangar 78.
Han paused in front of the large sliding doors. Something about the situation made his gut do a barrel roll. He’d been suspicious about this whole thing--despite setting it up--for a while, but it was a bad question. Kenobi and Luke weren’t going to find another ship unless they planned on stealing one, and that would risk setting off a system wide search. Then they’d have to worry about more than Jabba…
“You sure about this?” Solo lowered his hood and looked Kenobi in the eyes, trying to convey as many of the reservations he felt as possible.
It didn’t work.
“After you.”