Commander Pardiss stood in Darth Vader's private sanctuary on board the Super Star Destroyer Executor. Vader was inside the black chamber in front of him, which was currently sealed shut. Pardiss knew that there was a good chance that in the next few minutes his lifeless corpse would be sprawled on the deck of the great ship... he'd heard stories about what Vader would do to officers that failed him or the Emperor. If he was going to go to his death, though, he would face it with his head held high and no regrets, save one... he would never be able to pay back Solo and Calrissian for the way they humiliated him.

He had been forced to stay in the storage room until a maintenance crew had come by and seen that the lock was fused shut. By the time that had been discovered, though, Solo and Calrissian were long gone. Even though the Empire now controlled the majority of the galaxy, that was not enough for the Emperor. He wanted the remnants of the Rebellion crushed, and the fact that Pardiss had let one of the most wanted Rebels slip right through his fingers practically insured that his lifespan could be measured in minutes rather than years. It was just a matter of waiting for Vader to emerge from the chamber and pass sentence.

It seemed like an eternity had passed since he first entered the chamber. The minutes ticked slowly by, but Pardiss was prepared to wait as long as necessary. After all, every minute spent standing in the chamber was another minute he was alive.

Finally the black chamber Vader was ensconced in hissed open. The seat the Dark Lord was in slowly swiveled around until Vader was facing Pardiss. Outwardly Pardiss let no emotion show, but inside he felt a tremor of fear at what was about to happen. Then the thought of what Solo and Calrissian had done to him shot through his mind, and his fear was replaced by a growing feeling of anger. It was their fault he was in this predicament, and he silently swore he would find a way to avoid death at Vader's hands. Then he would be able to track them down and make them pay, just as he had told them he would.

Vader focused his attention on Pardiss. Even though Vader's eyes were not visible, Pardiss could still feel them slicing through him like a lightsaber.

"Commander Pardiss," Vader rumbled as he stood up. Pardiss stood ramrod straight and replied.

"Yes, my lord."

Vader said nothing for several seconds.

"The Rebels on Bespin escaped you," he finally said.

"Yes, my lord." Pardiss felt a sudden tightening in his throat. This was it... he'd heard that the Dark Lord used the Force to slowly strangle the life out of his victims.

The tightening slowly lessened. Pardiss was amazed... was Vader just toying with him?

"I feel the anger in you, Pardiss," Vader said. "You wish to make Solo and Calrissian pay for how you were humiliated."

Pardiss slowly nodded. "Yes, my lord." How had Vader known that was what he wanted?

"The Emperor will tolerate no further delay in the destruction of the Rebellion," Vader said as he slowly paced back and forth in front of Pardiss. "You will track down Solo and Calrissian, and once you have found them, you will execute them. You are free to use any means within reason to accomplish this."

A wave of relief swept over Pardiss. "Yes, my lord. I will find them." But even as he felt like he had just been given a new lease on life, Vader turned to face him and he felt the tightness in his throat return, stronger than before. As he started to gasp, Vader spoke again.

"Don't fail me again, Commander."

The tightening suddenly stopped, and Pardiss took a deep breath to compose himself. Once he had regained control, he bowed.

"Yes, my lord."

* * *

The Millenium Falcon shot through hyperspace. After their narrow escape from Cloud City, Han, Lando and Chewie had debated about what to do next. The Empire was bound to be hunting for all three of them now, and it seemed like nowhere was safe anymore. Even with Boba Fett no longer on their tail, Han felt certain that many, many more bounty hunters would pick up where he had left off. Also, something in the back of his mind kept telling him that not only had Fett been trying to track him down to collect the Empire's bounty, but he had also been trying to track him down for Jabba the Hutt. After all, Fett had been present in Jabba's court the day he'd paid the Hutt back, and the crimelord had let them go far too easily, especially considering that they still owed him money. Han had no real way to prove that Jabba had sent Fett after him, but he had a bad feeling about it.

"So what's the plan now?" Lando said as he sat in one of the passenger seats. Han turned around in his chair while Chewie concentrated on flying. Han gave him a lopsided grin, but it was a grin without much humor in it.

"How do you feel about trying to join the Rebel Alliance?" Han asked.

"Join the Rebellion?" Lando asked in astonishment. "After what's happened, are they still around?"

"They have to be. I know that several of the transports that left Hoth during the battle escaped. They must be regrouping somewhere."

"Where, though?"

Han glanced away. "I have no idea." He sat in silence for a few seconds, then suddenly brightened.

"But I think I know how we can find out."

* * *

"Solo," Wedge Antilles' voice came out of the comm system's speakers. Han grinned.

"Antilles. I need to talk to you."

"What about? If you're looking for more work, sorry. We're in bad shape, and I don't think we could afford-"

"We want to join the Alliance."

Silence.

"Antilles?"

More silence.

"Look, Solo," the voice finally came back. "You're just not the type-"

"Save it, Antilles," Han shot back. "The Alliance is hurting right now. You need us. I'm not expecting to be paid for my services or anything like that. We're sick of running from the Empire, and we want to be in a position where we can fight back."

"Solo..."

"Look, I know what I did at Yavin. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of Luke, Leia and everyone else I abandoned there." Lando looked at Han in puzzlement, and Han shot him a look that said I'll tell you later. "The thing is, I want to make up for it. I want to do something to honor their memories and avenge their deaths. What better way than by working with the Alliance to take the Empire down?"

Wedge sighed. It was a minute before he spoke again.

"All right. Meet me in the city of Mos Espa on Tatooine in three days, at the Wayside Cantina. I'll be there at dawn."

Han glanced at Chewie, who growled softly.

"Tatooine? Can't we meet someplace else?" Han really did not want to go back to Tatooine.

"There or nowhere, Solo."

"All right."

"I'll speak to Admiral Ackbar about this. If he says no, I'll contact you and this whole thing will be off."

"Fine."

"See you in three days, Solo." There was a slight hum as the connection cut out.

"What was that all about?" Lando asked. "What did you do at Yavin?"

Han sighed.

"It's a long story..."

* * *

Dawn on Tatooine.

The Millenium Falcon sat in docking bay 12 in the city of Mos Espa. Three days had passed with no word from Wedge. Han took that as a good sign. Leaving Chewie to guard the Falcon, he and Lando went to the Wayside Cantina. Han was slightly nervous about being back on Tatooine... after all, it was only a matter of time before word leaked to Jabba that the Falcon was back onplanet, and Han had no doubt that once word got out, every bounty hunter on the planet would be converging on Mos Espa. He planned to meet Wedge and get the hell offplanet as fast as he could.

Han and Lando were seated in a booth in the back of the cantina. Recorded music was playing quietly, and the place was nearly empty. Han kept one hand on his blaster, and he and Lando did their best to check out every single person that walked in the door.

"Where is he?" Lando muttered quietly.

Han shrugged. At that moment, a group of five beings entered the cantina, all wearing hooded cloaks. Bounty hunters, from the look of the weaponry they were carrying. Han tried his best to make out more details, but they moved towards the other side of the cantina. Then one broke off from the group, circled the bar, and headed directly for them.

"We've got company," Han whispered to Lando. Both of them stood and reached for their blasters... but before they could clear them from their holsters, the being reached up and took off his hood.

"Antilles!" Han whispered. Wedge nodded, and then they all sat down.

"I had to travel incognito," Wedge said in a hushed tone.

"Are those...?" Han said, indicating the group Wedge had come in with.

"No. That's my backup. We had to disguise ourselves as bounty hunters just so we could move around freely."

Han slumped back in the booth. Wedge then really noticed Lando for the first time.

"I was expecting the Wookiee to be with you, Solo," Wedge said as he turned to Lando. "Who are you?" he asked, clearly suspicious. Lando extended his hand.

"Lando Calrissian, former Baron-Administrator of Bespin's Cloud City."

Wedge warily shook his hand. "Why are you here?"

"Han and I are old friends. The Empire recently took control of Cloud City, and I figure I owe them one. I want to join the Alliance as well."

A flicker of recognition suddenly flashed over Wedge's face. "Wait a minute. Lando Calrissian... weren't you involved in the Battle of Tanaab?"

Lando grinned. "My reputation preceeds me."

Wedge grinned back. "Nice to have you aboard, Calrissian." Then he turned his attention back to Han. "Admiral Ackbar had a few reservations about your joining the Alliance. A lot of the Alliance High Command... or what's left of it... are still concerned that you're thinking only of yourself, and don't have the best interests of the Alliance in mind."

Han sat up. "Just give me a chance. I'll prove to you and the High Command that I'm in this for the Alliance, not myself."

"Ackbar has agreed to give you a chance. We know what kind of a pilot you are, and you're right - we need you. Even though he was just expecting you and the Wookiee, I think he'll look at Calrissian here as a nice bonus."

Han nodded. "Can we get out of here now?"

Wedge glanced around, then nodded. "Let me just alert my men."

Lando suddenly spoke up. "I think we have trouble," he said, gesturing slightly towards the door. Han looked up.

The bounty hunter Dengar stood in the doorway, his blaster rifle hanging loosely over his right shoulder. He surveyed the cantina, then walked up to the bar.

Han looked back at Wedge. "We're getting out of here. You have transportation off this rock?"

Wedge nodded. "Yeah, but I'm going with you. Ackbar insisted on it."

"He really doesn't trust me, does he?"

"No, he doesn't."

Han sighed. "Fine. What about your men?"

"They can get back to the fleet without me. Speaking of which..."

Wedge pulled a small transmitter out of his cloak and pressed a couple of buttons. Within the next few seconds, the four men Wedge had come in with had moved to leave the cantina without even a backwards glance in Wedge's direction.

"Coded 'all clear' signal," Wedge explained. "Now let's get out of here."

The three of them waited until Dengar's back was to them, then they got up and started to leave the cantina. Without warning, Dengar spun around, blaster rifle at the ready, freezing the three of them in their tracks instantly.

"Solo," Dengar snarled. Wedge made a movement toward his weapon, but stopped when Dengar shifted his attention toward him.

"You're coming with me, Solo. Jabba wants to see you about that additional money you owe him," Dengar said, a slight grin on his face. "You two," he said, indicating Lando and Wedge "can just back off. Don't make a move."

"Jabba sent Fett after me, didn't he?" Han said. If he could just give Wedge a chance to call his backup. He had to keep Dengar's attention focused on him rather than Wedge.

"That amateur? Yeah, he did. He mysteriously vanished a week ago, though. I think you had something to do with it, and for that matter, so does Jabba. That's something else he wants to see you about."

"It's touching that Jabba cares so much about his help."

"Fett represents an investment that Jabba is not happy about losing."

As Dengar kept talking, he focused his attention more on Han. Wedge took advantage of the distraction to discreetly slip his hand inside of his cloak. He found the transmitter and pressed the emergency button, then pulled his hand back out of his cloak. Dengar didn't notice either movement.

"...the word is already out that you're back on Tatooine. I'm lucky I found you first, because every bounty hunter on the planet is looking for you."

I knew it, Han thought.

"And you two," Dengar continued, speaking to Lando and Wedge. "I know who you both are, and you're coming with me too. The Empire is offering quite the bounty for you, Antilles."

Wedge glared at Dengar for a second, then glanced in the direction of the cantina entrance. Dengar continued talking, this time to Lando.

"There's a Commander Pardiss that wants to see you very badly, Calrissian. You too, Solo, but it's too bad for the commander that Jabba is offering a higher bounty for you than he is."

Han and Lando glanced at each other. Pardiss. So he'd finally gotten out of that storage chamber, and it looked like he was making good on his word.

Dengar motioned with the blaster rifle. "Let's go. I don't want to keep Jabba waiting. Keep your hands where I can see them."

The three of them started to move toward the entrance of the cantina... when suddenly a barrage of blaster fire erupted from the doorway and sent Dengar flying! His body crashed into the bar, then slid to the floor. He didn't stir after that. The few beings in the cantina glanced up at the commotion, then went back to their drinks. Apparently someone getting killed by blaster fire was not uncommon here.

Wedge's backup came through the door, shouldering their weapons as they came. "I've never been so happy to see you guys," Wedge said, grinning. The one in the lead removed his hood, revealing a smiling, friendly face. The other three beings followed suit.

"No problem, boss," he said. Wedge turned back to Han and Lando. "This is my backup," he said. "Hobbie Klivian," he said, indicating the man in the lead. "And that's Nien Nunb, Zeke Corfeld, and Ker'lya," he continued, indicating in turn a Sullustan, another human and a Bothan.

"Now let's get out of here," he said.

* * *

The streets of Mos Espa were alive with blaster fire.

Almost immediately upon leaving the cantina, the group had been attacked by a small band of bounty hunters. They had exchanged fire with them, all the while heading for the docking bay where the Falcon was. More bounty hunters - all of them converging on the area after word had spread that Han was here - had joined the battle, each determined to be the one to get Solo first. As such, not only were they trying to shoot Han, but they were also trying to shoot each other. As a result, it was pure chaos in the streets.

Upon nearing the entrance to the docking bay, Han could hear the distinctive sound of Chewie's bowcaster being fired, and the occasional Wookie battle cry splitting the air. Of course they came here too, he thought.

"Antilles!" he shouted to Wedge. "Set up some covering fire for us! Chewie's in trouble!"

Wedge made a motion to Ker'lya. Immediately the Bothan yanked a grenade out from under his cloak and tossed it in the direction of the bounty hunters that were pursuing them. With that, Corfeld and Nunb started firing in the same direction, in a crisscrossing pattern.

Han, Lando, Wedge and Hobbie then entered the docking bay. At least ten bounty hunters were arrayed inside, keeping Chewie pinned down behind some storage cylinders with blaster fire. Several dead bounty hunters lay close to the gangplank of the Falcon... Chewie had done his fair share of damage keeping them away from the ship, it seemed.

The sound of the explosion from Ker'lya's grenade echoed through the docking bay. Several of the bounty hunters glanced back to see what that noise had been - and were quickly picked off by Lando and Hobbie! One of them shouted an alarm before he too was cut down, and with that the remaining bounty hunters realized they weren't alone.

It was also the last thing they realized, because within seconds combined fire from Chewie, Han, Wedge, Lando and Hobbie dropped them in their tracks. Chewie saw Han for the first time and let out a roar.

"Get on board and start her up!" he yelled to Chewie. "We're getting out of here!" Within seconds Chewie had vanished up the gangplank into the interior of the ship.

"Get your men and let's get out of here!" Han yelled to Wedge as the Falcon's engines roared to life. Lando had aleady boarded the ship, and blaster fire could still be seen flying through the corridor leading to the docking bay. But before Wedge could order a retreat, the blaster fire in the corridor stopped and Nunb, Corfeld and Ker'lya bolted into the hangar bay.

"We managed to stop them, but there are more coming," Corfeld shouted as he rushed up to Wedge. "I think they have neks." Wedge and Han glanced at each other... if the bounty hunters set a pack of neks on them, those Cyborrean battle dogs wouldn't stop coming until they had all been destroyed.

"Board the ship, now!" Wedge yelled without another moment's hestitation. No one there needed to be told twice. Within a few seconds, they were all safely aboard the Falcon, and Han had sealed the gangplank shut behind them.

"Chewie, get us out of here!" he yelled as he ran up to the cockpit, followed closely by Wedge. The Falcon lifted off the ground and continued to climb into the sky as they entered the cockpit... and not a moment too soon. A pack of neks burst through the docking bay entrance and spilled into the bay. Had they stayed there a few moments longer, the neks would have attacked the Falcon itself once they found no living prey in the vicinity.

Lando was seated in the pilot's chair, and Chewie in the co-pilot's chair. For once, Han didn't mind that he wasn't flying his ship. He settled back into one of the passenger seats as the Falcon soared out of Tatooine's atmosphere.

"Where are we heading?" Lando asked Wedge, who had taken the other passenger seat. Wedge recited a set of coordinates, which Lando entered into the navicomputer. A few moments later, the navicomputer pinged, Lando pulled back on the throttles, and the Falcon surged forward into hyperspace, leaving Tatooine behind forever.