Several minutes later, Han, Lando, Chewie and Lobot emerged from the carbon freezing chamber. After checking on Fett's status, Lando had gotten ahold of Lobot and told him where he and Han were. Once Lobot and Chewie had arrived in the chamber, they had stashed Fett's body in an unused storage compartment.

As they rode another elevator back to the upper levels, the lights on Lobot's head implant started to flash. Lobot blinked, then turned to Lando.

"I have two reports. The first is from the maintenance crew assigned to the Millenium Falcon - they report that all repairs have been completed." Han grinned at that news.

"The second is from the Wing Guard captain assigned to section 37. The Imperials are here," Lobot continued. Han's grin faded at that point. "They just landed on the West Platform - a full squadron of stormtroopers was reported exiting the shuttle. The officer in charge is waiting to speak to you. Cloud car pilots have also reported at least six squadrons of TIE fighters flying in formation around the city."

"Great," Lando grimaced. "It won't be long before they spot the Falcon. We'd better get up there."

* * *

Commander Pardiss stood on the West Platform, awaiting Calrissian's arrival. He was here for one reason, to inform the Baron-Administrator personally that the Empire was assuming control of the city. He had reason to believe that there were Rebels hidden here... upon his initial approach to the city, he had spotted a Rebel ship that had been sighted at the Battle of Yavin. Upon further checking, it was discovered that this ship had been on board the Death Star shortly before the battle - and on top of that, this was the very same ship that the Star Destroyer Avenger had pursued into the Anoat asteroid field just a short time before, after it had been spotted fleeing Hoth during the initial attack. The ship had been presumed destroyed in the asteroid field, but its pilot was apparently more clever than anyone had realized. Pardiss would show no mercy to the Rebels that owned the ship, or the people that were harboring them. He had his orders from Admiral Piett of the Executor, the ship on which he served - and Piett's orders were from the Emperor himself.

Pardiss had already sent a detachment of stormtroopers to search the city for the Rebels. They had not yet made their first report back when Lando Calrissian and Lobot emerged from the tower adjacent to the platform.

"Baron-Administrator Calrissian?" Pardiss asked as Lando and Lobot approached.

"Yes. And you are?"

"Commander Pardiss of the Star Destroyer Executor. This city is now under Imperial control, and you are to surrender the Rebels you have been harboring here or face summary execution as an enemy of the New Order."

Lando glanced at Lobot. "We aren't harboring any Rebels here, Commander."

Pardiss snorted. "Then perhaps you would care to explain the Rebel ship currently docked at Platform 327?"

Lando looked shocked. "That's a ship that I recently bought from a pilot that was just passing through. It's being repaired and refurbished right now," he said. "I had no idea that the pilot was a Rebel. If I had, I would have turned him away - by force, if neccesary."

"And where is this pilot now?"

"He caught an outbound transport not more than twelve hours ago."

Pardiss' face hardened. "Let me put it bluntly, Calrissian - I don't believe you."

Lando said nothing as Pardiss began to pace back and forth in front of him.

"I know that the ship on Platform 327 is the Millenium Falcon. I know that the pilot, Han Solo, is an old friend of yours. And - I'm sure you know this too - he is a wanted fugitive. Now you will turn him and his Wookiee companion over to us, or my men will tear this city apart to find him. It's your choice, but I suggest you turn them over to us. If you do, I will spare your life."

Lando's gaze grew cold. His bluff had failed. He sighed, then motioned to Lobot.

"Fine. I'll take you to him. I would also like to inform my people of the change in administration."

"Certainly," Pardiss replied.

"If you'll follow me," Lando said. Pardiss nodded, and he and a detachment of stormtroopers followed Lando and Lobot toward the tower doors.

* * *

Inside the West Platform tower, Han and Chewie crouched in a hidden alcove next to the tower doors. Once Lando brought the Imperial officer inside, they would use him as their insurance to get off of Cloud City in one piece.

The tower doors slid open. Lando and Lobot walked in, followed by the Imperial officer and a small detachment of stormtroopers. As they walked past the alcove, Han and Chewie stepped into view, directly behind them, weapons pointed at the group. Lando discreetly punched some buttons on his wristpiece.

"Freeze!" Han exclaimed. Pardiss spun around, as did the stormtroopers. The stormtroopers were just starting to raise their rifles when a squadron of Wing Guards appeared like magic from all directions, weapons raised. The stormtroopers quickly surrendered. Pardiss just glared at Han and Chewie.

"Good work," Lando said to the Wing Guard captain. The captain handed Lando a set of wrist binders as the rest of the Wing Guards moved in and secured the stormtrooper's blaster rifles. "Hold them in the security tower, and keep it quiet," Lando ordered the captain. "Move."

The Wing Guards quickly led the stormtroopers away, while Lando used the binders to secure Pardiss' wrists. "What do you plan to do, Calrissian?" Pardiss sneered.

"You're coming with us, Commander," Lando said. "We're leaving, and you're our insurance policy."

Han looked up and down the corridor. It was deserted. "Let's go," he said.

* * *

A few minutes later, they were standing at the doorway that led to Platform 327. They had not encountered any stormtroopers on the way up, and at the moment, the coast seemed clear. Before opening the door, Lando walked over to a public address comm panel and pulled a small microphone out of it. He spoke into it, and his voice could be heard echoing all over the city. Pardiss attempted to shout an order that the stormtroopers would hear, but Chewie slapped a paw over Pardiss' mouth.

"Attention, this is Lando Calrissian. Attention. The Empire has taken control of the city. I advise all of you to leave before more Imperial troops arrive." Lando switched off the comm and put the microphone back. Pardiss glared at him, his mouth still covered by Chewie's paw, his face turning redder by the second.

"Let him go, Chewie," Han said. Pardiss, who was now fuming, shouted at Han and Lando. "You'll never make it out of the planet's atmosphere! The TIEs will see to that!"

"Oh, I think we will," Han said casually. "They're going to be too busy dealing with the swarm of transports that are leaving right now. I think we'll be able to slip by unnoticed."

"I'll get you all for this. Mark my words," Pardiss fumed.

"Yeah, right," Han smirked. "Before you can get us, you'll have to be found. Chewie, throw the Commander in that storage room and lock it." Chewie chuckled, then herded Pardiss into the storage room, shut the door, locked it from the outside, and fused the locking mechanism with a shot from his bowcaster.

"Nice," Lando said. "Now let's get the hell out of here."

"About time you wised up," Han said as the doors slid open. The sun was setting, and the clouds were turning various shades of pink. The Falcon sat on the platform, waiting for them.

"I've warned my people. There's nothing keeping me here anymore," Lando replied. He turned to Lobot.

"Keep an eye on things until I get back - because I will be back. I owe the Empire one right now, though."

"Yes sir," Lobot said. With that, he turned and walked back down the corridor. Han, Chewie and Lando then walked out onto the platform and ran to the Falcon. Han activated the gangplank controls, and before it could lower all the way, he had jumped on board. Chewie and Lando quickly followed.

"I hope your people are as reliable as you say they are," Han remarked. Lando grinned.

"Trust me, if they said it's been fixed, it's been fixed."

The gangplank closed, and within moments the Falcon had lifted off the platform. They encountered no resistance on the way out - just like Han had said, the TIEs were busy trying to herd the transports back to Cloud City, but they were not succeeding. A few minutes later, they had cleared the atmosphere of Bespin and were in space once more. Immediately Han picked up the Super Star Destroyer Executor on the Falcon's long range scanners.

Before the Executor could even initiate an intercept course, though, Han had made the calculations for the jump to lightspeed. The navicomputer pinged, and Han pulled back on the throttles.

The Falcon shot into hyperspace, leaving Bespin far behind.